CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  TRAVELING TO TANISGROTH

  Standing at the top of the steps of the temple of Elion in Valtross, Anya said her parting words to Hemslia and a young cleric named Florian while the others waited under the trees in the courtyard.

  “Hemslia, my friend. You have always been a strong cleric,” said Anya, thankful. “I can barely remember when you were a novice. I have entrusted you with so many things here. Now I trust that, as the new lead cleric, you will continue to teach Florian as I have taught you.”

  Hemslia bowed. When the dwarf lifted her head she looked directly at Florian. “As you have trusted me, I will trust in this young man. He loves Elion and he loves the people of Valtross.”

  “I am your humble learner,” bowed Florian, after looking at Hemslia. Then the thin man bowed to Anya. “I thank you, Anya, that you think enough of me to take Hemslia’s place.”

  Anya smiled and placed a hand on Florian’s shoulder firmly, then embraced Hemslia.

  “I trust in your dream Anya,” said the dwarf. “Still, be careful.” Then she looked out into the courtyard at Garrick and the others. “All of you.”

  Hemslia looked over at Florian. Then both of them looked back at Anya.

  “We await your return,” added Florian, respectfully.

  “Valtross will not be the same without you. Now go,” said Hemslia, turning Anya around.

  Once they saw Anya descend down the steps, Garrick and the others walked slowly into the street. When Anya caught up to them, she looked back at the temple. After watching Hemslia wave one last time as the temple disappeared from view, Anya’s face grew solemn. Seeing her demeanor change, Elias put his arm around the cleric as they walked.

  “It is not easy. I know. I did the same with one of my men,” said the knight. “But I knew Stephen was worthy of the mantle of captain.” Then he patted Anya’s shoulder with assurance. “And you know that Hemslia is worthy as well. They are both strong followers of Elion.”

  “Thank you, Elias,” replied Anya, smiling up at the Knight of Providence. Then she patted his hand. “I am happy you are my companion on this quest.

  Seeing Deelah in front of him, walking with her head down lost in thought, Elias spoke up. “What about you, Deelah? Are you already missing someone?”

  “No knight. My life was back in Aubrelon,” replied the thief. Then after a few seconds she laughed. “But I am sure Maxwell will not be missing me while I am gone.”

  With the sun slowly beginning to rise, Garrick pulled out the high priest’s map and unrolled it. “We can take this road out of Valtross. Then we will cross The Living River into Pipers Prairie.”

  When the others joined the mercenary, he pointed to the map and began to drag his finger on it. “The prairie connects to Sheridan Forest, which borders Tanisgroth. I think we should camp there. The forest is huge, I know, so as soon as we get to it, we will rest for the night.” Then Garrick pointed at a note made next to Sheridan Forest. “According to the high priest, the game is plentiful there.” After rubbing his chin, Garrick continued. “I wonder if it still is...”

  “Let us get over The Living River and through Pipers Prairie first, Garrick. Then you can wonder about that,” interjected Cerelene, interrupting the mercenary’s thought.

  Hearing Maldrin laugh, Garrick looked over at him.

  “I am sorry, my boy. I know you love to hunt, but the elf maiden is correct,” replied Maldrin. “The trek through the prairie alone will be long enough.” Then the wizard looked at Anya and Deelah. “And we do not know how well these two travel.”

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  As Anya nodded in understanding, Deelah looked angry.

  “I can run circles around you, you old wizard,” declared the thief, pointing at Maldrin, almost poking him in the chest.

  Garrick watched as Onyx began to trot on ahead, then he heard a screech above. When Garrick looked up he saw Azure following the mystic wolf. After watching them for a moment, he looked back at the others and pointed at the two animals. “They have the right idea. Let us move.”

  The journey from the streets of Valtross to The Living River was simple enough, but it wasn’t short. After crossing a bridge that covered the narrowest part of the river, Garrick led the group to a small thicket that marked the beginning of Pipers Prairie. There they stopped for a rest. A much needed rest, especially for Anya, though the cleric tried not to let it show.

  As Onyx laid down under one of the trees, Tal crept out of Maldrin’s pocket and ran up the mystic wolf’s back, sitting on his big head. Seeing Azure land in the tree above them, Cerelene took a seat on an oversized moss covered log that seemed almost out of place near the small trees and bushes that surrounded it. After the others followed suit, they all took out their water skins, while Maldrin pulled out a spell book. They were all silent for a few minutes until a strong breeze moved through the thicket.

  “Take a drink wizard,” reminded Cerelene, looking past the others and lifting her water skin. “Your thirst for knowledge is commendable, but quenching the thirst of the body comes first. And we still have a ways to go.”

  Knowing the elf maiden to be right, Maldrin nodded, grabbed his water skin and took a long drink. Then he opened his spell book again.

  Next to Cerelene, Anya stretched her legs out while Deelah twisted her upper body back and forth. Next to Deelah, Elias sat his shield on the ground, while Garrick pulled out the map and unrolled it. Seeing Anya lean forward on the log and pull her hood back, feeling another breeze suddenly blow through the thicket, Elias leaned forward as well and looked past Deelah to her older sister.

  “Anya, I never asked you this back in Valtross, but did you always want to be a cleric?” questioned the knight, after taking a long drink.

  Though Cerelene was looking out further into Pipers Prairie at a group of hills, she still listened for her new companion's answer, while Garrick rolled up the map and Maldrin mouthed the words he read in his spell book. Anya closed her eyes, feeling the cool air rush over her face. When the breeze moved on she opened her eyes again and looked at the knight.

  “Yes,” answered Anya. “My parents always wanted me to serve Elion in some way, like your parents did. Thanks be to Elion, before their deaths they saw me as a novice...” Then Anya shook her head and smiled. “If they could only see me now. Not just a cleric in Valtross, our hometown, but out with Deelah, seeking the Scepter Sword.” Then she picked up her staff and joined Cerelene, who was checking her arrowheads as she walked off.

  Seeing Deelah pull out one of her knives and dig it into the log, Elias turned to her.

  “Did you ever want to be a cleric like your sister?” prodded the knight.

  Deelah stood up quickly and ran her right hand over her short blonde curls. After brushing the moss from the log off of her pants, the thief placed her knife back into her pocket and feigned annoyance.

  “I am nothing like my sister. Anya has always been virtuous. Unlike me, the cleric robes suit her,” stated the thief.

  Elias grabbed Deelah’s arm as she started to walk off. Turning around in surprise, the thief looked into the determined, serious eyes of the Knight of Providence.

  “Elion is the god of all creation,” proclaimed Elias with a voice of certainty. “He is always willing to create a new road back to righteousness. Elion will create a new heart in you, if you but ask.”

  Deelah smiled. Then leaned down and put her face close to Elias.’ The knight's and the thief's noses almost touched, as she started to caress Elias’ short blonde beard.

  “Oh, but if you only knew all that I have done in dark corners, or in the blackest of night,” returned Deelah.

  Elias watched Deelah as she ran away, laughing, and joined her sister and Cerelene, who were already walking on together.

  “I have never seen a woman more…alive,” marveled Elias, aloud to himself.

  Garrick laughed and stood up as he thought of Melita back at The Crossroads. Then the mercenary grabbed the Knight of Providence by the hand and helped him up.

  “My friend, be careful. She is the type of woman that will make you feel more alive...or get you killed.”

  Seeing the knight and mercenary get up, Maldrin put his spell book back into his pack and stood as well. Then the old wizard looked at Elias. “My boy, the question I have for you is, are you willing to find out which one it is?”

  Leaving the sounds of The Living River behind them, Garrick led the group through the prairie to the hills off in the distance. As they began to hike up the mounds of dirt and rock that were in the center of the grasslands, they could hear a faint noise that got louder and louder as they trudged on. When they were closing in on the top of the hill, Garrick became alarmed and looked at Elias.

  “Sounds like a battle!” said the knight as he began to detach his shield from his back.

  Garrick pulled his bow off his shoulder and began running the remaining distance to the top of the hill. Seeing the mercenary run ahead, Onyx took off next, easily overtook him, and made it up the hill and started barking. When Garrick finally made it to the top he saw a battle raging in the grassland below the hill. Then he looked back at Cerelene who arrived shortly after.

  “Trying to leave me behind?” joked the elf maiden. However, when she looked down the hill with Garrick her tone changed and she said just one word.

  “Wyverns!”