From Distant Shores Collection Part 2 by K.R. Gomlok (ebook reader browser txt) 📕

the morning rays, shimmering in the growing light. She was captivating now that he thought about it. But then, he recalled, the Elves had always been described as hauntingly beautiful in all the stories he had been told. His eyes followed her arm as it made a light gesture toward him. Towards him? It then caught Valormin?s attention that she was signaling him.
Somewhat embarrassed at being caught off guard, he stepped out of the trees and was about to shout when a stifled cry came from Nafilas?s position. ?Come closer,? A voice called to him from the gate. He noted that it held the same light quality of Nafilas?s voice. ?You should not be outside the gates at this hour, the darkness is still upon the world.?
?You should do as he says,? Another voice coming from behind him, also holding the gentle Elven quality. ?You are being tracked from three directions at the moment. I doubt you have room for negotiation at this point.?
Valormin let out a frustrated sigh before doing as his unseen superior told and moving inside the village.
Inside the settlement, Valormin noticed Nafilas and another Elf standing near the entrance. The Elf had golden hair and deep blue eyes that pierced Valormin with wisdom, as if he knew exactly where Valormin had come from. Upon his right cheek was a strange scar, curled at both ends.
At his side was a transparent blade lightly tinted blue. Its smooth surface shone in the morning sun with unsurpassed brilliance, yet Valormin could still see through the crystalline sword. Deep inside it was a faint white glow that forced off the last traces of night.
?What do you think they were doing?? The Elf said, his gaze still resting upon Valormin.
His apparent accomplice stepped out from behind Valormin, a cloak obscuring her features. ? They left the Zalian outpost, but I doubt they were spies. Especially since I know this one.? She gestured toward Nafilas.
Nafilas took a step forward squinting at the cloaked figure, surprise and doubt filling her expression, ?Joria?? She inquired hesitantly, ?Is that really???
The cloaked figure threw back her hood, loosing long brown locks of curly hair and a pair of Elven ears. ?Yes, Nafilas. I survived the attack. Though I would have died in the ruins were it not for the aid of Ikiaghn.? She motioned toward the remaining Elf.
?I?m glad I could help.? Ikiaghn stated, looking at Joria in a pointed sort of way, as if he would rather talk about other things, ? But we have some matters to attend to. If you?ll join us, Nafilas and??
?My name is Valormin,? the answer was quick and edging on the side of defensive. It slowly occurred to Valormin that he might not be making a very good first impression. ?Don?t worry about me, I?ll be fine out here.?
Ikiaghn stared at him a second before nodding in concurrence ? Alright, Bemaldar will wait with you, he doesn?t enjoy the meetings either.?
Bemaldar? He had heard that name somewhere before, but where? Might it have been??
Then he remembered, as he had escaped Ramador, he had met a man named Mäsene Turinil who?s last request had been to find his brother?
?Bemaldar.? Valormin whispered, recalling his first night of freedom.
Bemaldar turned out to be a rather well built man with long dark hair and a full, flowing beard. Across his back he wore a hulking war hammer thats handle was almost as tall as he was. His arms were huge, each one equal to a Halthact forearm. His distinguishing aspect was an oddly shaped scar on his left cheek, a scar that looked exactly like Ikiaghn?s, only deeper.
?How did you??? Valormin trailed off, after his recent conversation streak it seemed best he keep quiet for a while.
But it was to late, Bemaldar understood him to clearly. ?Get this scar? I earned it for challenging Nacyhd, the northern raider. His skill surpassed me the last time we met.?
He stood there for a second, decidedly distraught by Bemaldar?s insight. Inside the village was empty now that everyone was at the meeting, save for himself, Bemaldar, and two humans he looked to be soldiers of a sort. ?You?re brother?? Valormin began hesitantly, thinking of how to phrase the news, ?Mäsene Turinil is dead.?
Bemaldar was visibly shocked, though he covered it quickly after revealing it, ?And how do you know this?? He demanded, for a moment seeming very menacing as he towered over Valormin by a good foot and a half.
?I was with him in his last minutes,? Valormin said slowly, hoping dearly that Bemaldar would not get angry for some obscure reason and render him disabled. ?He told me to find you and? Say he was sorry for what happened.?
Bemaldar stepped back, this time not bothering to hide the growing sorrow on his face.
?Bemaldar, what?s wrong?? one of the soldiers called out to him, walking nearer to the scene.
Bemaldar shook his head, sending ripples through his midnight mane. ?It?s nothing, Rilth. Continue to guard with Serri. Who knows what may come in this dark hour??
Rilth nodded, his expressionless face giving nothing away. ?As you wish.? He murmured, before returning to his post.
Valormin waited a moment as Bemaldar stared off into the cloudless sky, ?So who exactly is Ikiaghn?? He asked, hesitant to break the berserker?s reminiscence.
A slight smile found its way to Bemaldar?s face, ?He is an Elf that I very recently met, he also met Nacyhd, as you may have noticed. I don?t claim to know a great deal about Elves but I will say they can be awfully reclusive. He hasn?t told me much but I suppose he?s on a mission of some sort. A creature that arrived with him, Ansoran it said it was called, is out scouting. Though if that?s what it?s really doing, I?m not sure.?
Before Bemaldar could say anything further, a cloaked figure vaulted over the village walls with an amazing jump and landed near their position, ?You mentioned me?? it said, straightening up.
?Don?t go sneaking about like that!? Bemaldar commanded, his hand by instinct was at his war hammer. ?Someday you?re going to get yourself hurt doing that.?
The figure, which was apparently Ansoran, laughed quietly, ?Don?t worry, master Turinil, it is quite safe now, the Zalians have stopped their pursuit, they are now retreating to their fortress.?
Before Bemaldar could further question him, Ansoran headed off into the depths of the village.
?That ones a little to queer for my taste,? Bemaldar stated, looking with annoyance in the direction Ansoran had disappeared. ?I wonder why?.?
?The meeting is over,? Ikiaghn announced as he exited the council chamber he had entered. ?We have come to our conclusion.?
Nafilas nodded, she did not meet Valormin?s inquisitive stare, ?We have decided it is time to turn back.?
?What?? Valormin asked, confusion once again dominating him.
She sighed deeply and looked up at him. ?We are heading back to the fortress... We are going to war with the Zalians.?

* * *

The sun beat down on Nafilas as she walked alongside Valormin, she could not meet his gaze. It seemed that getting him out of danger just to thrust him back in was somehow wrong, and it felt like a fresh flog from Gorgrómith?s whip when she took into consideration his fragile trust.
?Are you alright?? Joria asked, coming up beside them, ?you look distracted. Its as if you are deeply concerned for something,? She paused a moment before smiling and looking directly into Nafilas?s astonished stare, ?or someone.?
Nafilas turned away, rejecting the idea, why was Joria bringing this up?
?Oh?? Valormin asked, looking over the top of her head to get a glimpse of Joria. ?You must be very skilled with this art of reading people. I cannot trace the smallest fragment of emotion that might betray her intent.?
Nafilas felt her face begin to turn red, and not from the heat. Did Valormin really feel he had to intervene for her? It was a kind gesture and she knew he was attempting to help her but it only made it all the worse.
?There are more important things to worry about at the moment,? she stated, attempting keep her voice calm, ?Such as Erima.?
?Erima?? the question came from Valormin, ?Who is Erima??
Now that it came up, Nafilas realized that she had never told anyone about Erima and her brother who were imprisoned in Gorgrómith?s castle. Last time she had seen them, Erima had been terribly ill and her brother, whom was actually never named in Nafilas?s short meeting with them, had been watching over her despite his obviously sickly conditions. ?Erima is one of the other prisoners,? she said simply, ?I promised her I would return for her someday.?
Valormin nodded, ?Then let us hasten to the battle, I didn?t quite enjoy my stay in that dark fortress and I doubt Erima is.?
?Be careful with your actions,? a soldier cautioned him, ?You may find yourself in a world of trouble with no way out if you try to fight every battle as soon as it arrives.?
?You?re Rilth, aren?t you?? Valormin asked, addressing the soldier. Nafilas took note of the name as well as the distinct armor of a Drummer class soldier. They were a legendary unit of warriors that had long fought against the Halthact and Zalians. If Rilth was truly a former or current Drummer their chances of survival were greatly increased.
Rilth nodded, ?You remember me from last night, don?t you? Ikiaghn is taking on quite a mixed bunch, I?d say.?
?So what do you think Ansoran is?? Valormin said in a conversational tone, looking around, as if he were ensuring whatever Ansoran was was not around. ?I cannot begin to guess from what little I saw of him last night.?
Rilth paused a moment as he thought his answer over. ?He is not human, I can tell you that. But he isn?t an Elf either. I can only tell you that there are things more ancient and fearsome than the Elves in this world, and none of them are to be trifled with.?
?I think we had best leave it at that.? Nafilas interjected before Valormin could say anything further.
Joria gave her a queer look before continuing on and talking to