I honestly didn’t know what to think when Aaron told me my father had been executed just days before we found him. When I learned he had escaped the same fate, I wanted to hate him. When I realized he had abandoned my mother as well, I did hate him. I think a part of me still does.

Part of my anger was my own guilt, though. Nothing could make up for me running away and leaving them to hope I might find my way back someday. Though I tried to convince myself I didn’t go back to them because it was forbidden, I’ve already said I have a certain disdain for rules. I was a coward; I was afraid of what they would say.

But that’s all very off topic. My point is, I wasn’t sure how I felt when Aaron stood in front of my elementals, my people, and pleaded for his life –not for himself but for those he could save if we let him go. I wanted to hate him, I did hate him, but I very much wanted them to spare his life by the end of that night.

- Ariel

--

“Outsider,” Michelle snapped her fingers. “Up, now.”

Aaron snapped the small book shut and slipped it in a pocket inside his cloak. Rubbing his sore eyes, he stood. Reading the tiny print in the dim light had strained his vision to the point that everything around him was blurry. Still, he had a better idea of what to argue if he was to convince the elementals to spare him. Provided things went well, it would prove fortunate that he had stumbled upon the settlement.

Or so he tried to convince himself.

He followed the elemental master down the carved ladder – the entrance opened willing for him now. Kye’yn and Ariel waited by the base of the tree; they both looked up rather hopefully as their master joined them.

“Master, we were thinking–” Kye’yn started.

“No.”

“But we helped–!”

“NO,” she snapped. “Probation is a punishment. I will not change it by whim, even for something important as this – especially for something like this. You went into Erenar. You broke our laws. That means probation and probation means no assemblies.” She smiled slightly. “Considering why you’re on probation in the first place, I’d think you’d’ve had enough of Outsiders.”

“Master…”

“I said no! You will escort us there and then you will return to our quarters. I will not discuss it further.”

Cowed, they both nodded, though Ariel still looked mutinous. Aaron studied her as they walked. She had gone into Erenar, despite the elementals’ laws against it. It made him wonder if she really had abandoned her family like he thought. The way things were heading, he doubted he’d get the chance to find out. She noticed him staring at her and frowned; he looked away.

More elementals joined them on the path as they approached the center of Solastris, marked by the towering tree Aaron had noticed through the window the night before. Many shot him and his escorts dark looks before turning away, muttering to each other.

To be so unwelcome was unnerving.

Despite his increasing nervousness, Aaron could only gape as he stepped into the clearing at the center of Solastris. The giant tree, larger than any he had ever seen or heard of, stood at the far end of the clearing, separated from the rest by a small brook. A throne-like chair, intricately carved, had been cut into its base; in it sat the elderly elemental from the night before, Lady Saoirse. Carved logs around the edge of the clearing provided seating for the rest of the elementals. The setting sun behind them cast everything in glowing red, while the moon was just cresting the top of that towering tree.

Of all the courts he had seen – human or elven – Aaron found this the most beautiful.

He started from his rapture when Michelle cleared her throat. He looked around to see her glaring at her two students, who had slipped into the clearing with them. Ariel once again seemed ready to protest, but a curt shake of Michelle’s head and Kye’yn’s hand on her arm stopped her. Sulkily, they slunk back out through the gap in the great hedge that separated this wild court from the rest of the village.

Michelle turned to Aaron, and with a nearly imperceptible softening of her stern glare, said, “Come.” She led him across the clearing and bade him kneel next to the brook in front of the tiny bridge across it, constructed of a halved log covered with moss.

A hush fell over the gathered elementals as the sun sank behind a mountain ridge, red sunset shifting to the silver of twilight. He shivered as Lady Saoirse rose to address her people.

--

“This is not fair,” Ariel complained, shooting a venomous look back at the Assembly. “We helped bring him in, we held keep over him. We should get to be there.” She looked at Kye’yn, expecting him to defend Michelle’s decision, only to find him nodding in agreement.

Silently, he gestured to the trees surrounding the clearing and winked at her. She blinked, surprised, then grinned. “You’re brill–” He gestured frantically for her to be quiet, then slipped into the trees. She followed.

Quietly, they hauled themselves into the branches of one of the larger trees around the clearing. Balanced rather precariously, they leaned out over the heads of the other elementals seated below them, straining to hear. Aaron had just risen from where he’d knelt and introduced himself, turning to address all of the elementals. That done, he turned back to face Saoirse.

“As I began yesterday, I come because there is a matter that could afford your attention,” he began smoothly, looking up into the elderly elemental’s eyes. “But first, I must ask if you know the story of the Great War.” He spun suddenly away from Saoirse and began pacing in front of the elementals, head bowed, occasionally glancing up to catch someone or another’s eye. “The legend begins that once there were Five and not Four. But the Dark One, Lord of the Night, grew jealous of the others–”

“Yes, yes,” one of the elementals below Kye’yn and Ariels’ perch cut him off. “The Dark One grew jealous because people fear the night and cast the curse of death on all of their children, which began a war between him and the High Four. He created demons, they created elves, and a battle for control of the universe began, and here we are today.” The elemental made a derisive noise. “It’s a pretty child’s tale, but there’s little truth to it.” A few of the other elementals protested that statement, but the outspoken elemental waved them off. “It doesn’t matter. What does this have to do with us, Outsider? I assume you haven’t come solely to tell us fairytales.”

That drew a few chuckles from the gathered elementals. Aaron stood stock-still for a moment, staring at the ground. Then he looked over to the outspoken member of his audience and nodded. “Very well. Since you already know that story, let me remind you of another. History, not legend. Five hundred years ago, the elementals lived in peace with the humans and the elves. But a group of demons disguised themselves as human and frayed the peace between the races of Elemna. They were led by a demon named Lord Tervanu.”

Black eyes with red pupils… the guards dead, their throats cut…

Kye’yn shivered and frowned, shaking his head to clear the image. Next to him, Ariel glanced over and mouthed Are you alright? He nodded and turned his attention back to the clearing, where Aaron had the elementals’ full attention.

“– the time their true identity – the Dark One’s army – was discovered, the elementals had retreated into seclusion, and the humans and the elves were at war. When they… when we asked you for help, you murdered our messengers and left us to fight for the freedom of your world and ours.” He ignored the angry shouts that rose up at the accusation. “And we won. We thought we’d won,” he amended softly. “Lord Tervanu was killed by the elves, his army banished. But a hundred years ago, a great magical eruption created the Sands; an eruption caused by the breaking of the very spell that prevented the demons from returning to Elemna. Something went terribly wrong those five hundred years ago. Lord Tervanu did not die.

“And now he is back.”

Kye’yn jerked violently, shaking the branch he balanced on and raining leaves down on the people seated below him. A few glanced upwards, but the light was dim enough to hide the eavesdroppers from a casual glance. He grabbed blindly at the branches to save himself from falling, a hand pressed to his forehead.

His head pounded in time to his heart beat, which was suddenly racing. Scattered images flashed through his mind, too fast to follow: images of blood, death, and great shadowy beings with wings. He gasped and dug his fingernails into his scalp, nauseated by the dizziness the whirling pictures brought.

Slowly, the dizziness faded, and he became aware of the bark under his free hand, Ariel clutching his arm to steady him, and the murmur of voices below them. He wiped the sweat from his eyes, frowning.

“What do you remember?” Ariel whispered fiercely. “What memory this time?” Kye’yn stared blankly at her, then shook his head.

“I don’t know,” he murmured back,” I really don’t know. But… I think he’s telling the truth.” He looked to where Aaron patiently waited for the mutterings to die down. “He’s telling the truth.”

Gradually, the clearing silenced enough for Aaron to resume his story. “Lord Tervanu is back,” he repeated, “and that is why I am here. All those five hundred years ago, the elven elementals used a spell to kill him and banish the demons from our world. The spell failed. I’m here to ask you, to beg you, to help me do it again.

“A major component of that spell was four elemental stones, which only elementals can wield. The elven elementals failed, but I don’t believe you will. Help me find the four stones. Help me expose him and his fellows demons. Help me wield the stones against him. Help me… just help me.” He fell quiet.

There was a moment of heavy silence, then someone started laughing. The outspoken elemental under Kye’yn and Ariels’ hideout stood up and sauntered over to where Aaron stood. “Isiael,” Kye’yn hissed, recognizing him; Isiael particularly disliked Outsiders, but many of the Solastris elementals respected him for his power and skill in the earth element. His opinion would sway most who were unsure.

Isiael looked Aaron over, then spat angrily at his feet. “More fairytales!” he snarled, spinning to face his peers. “This Outsider comes here, with his stories and his pleas, with his accusations, and he expects us to help him! To believe him!” He whirled back on Aaron. “What proof do you have, Outsider? Not even a demon can live five hundred years, and yet you expect us to believe he not only lived so long, but survived a spell intended to kill him? And that he’s returned to a place infested with his enemies, using the same tactics he used in the last war? It’s fairytales, all of it, and a pathetic attempt to save your own neck. Demon Lords and elemental stones… why did you think we would believe you?”

Aaron looked up at him and asked softly, “Why else would I come?”

Isiael glowered at him, and shook his head disbelievingly. “Fairytales,” he growled one last time and stalked back to his seat. “Even if it were true, it’s not our business.” There were murmurs of assent.

Lady Saoirse sighed. “If no one else has anything to add, then–”

“M’lady,” a voice came quietly from across the clearing. “I’d like to say something in his favor.” Ariel nearly fell off her perch in shock; in the clearing, Michelle’s head snapped up from where she sat near Lady Saoirse. A ripple of surprise traveled around the clearing.

“Unlike Isiael,” Ross continued with a respectful nod to the other man, “I don’t believe the legend of the Great War is a fairytale, and I’m inclined to believe this Outsider’s story. Our informers have told us of the unrest between the elves and the humans in the past several years. There’s been peace between them since the Desolation. Why now, if not for this?” He smiled darkly. “Besides, that’s a hell of a story to weave if there’s no truth to it.”

Michelle rose and stepped forward. “As much as I hate to agree with Master Rossalrin, I think he’s right. I believe the Outsider as well. And if it is true, it is our business. To our everlasting shame, we retreated to our forests during the Demon wars.” She stared down those who protested. “To our shame. If the same thing is happening, can we hide ourselves away here? If war breaks out, it affects us all.”

Saoirse nodded to both of them and stood “Is there anyone else?” she asked the gathered elementals. When no one rose, she nodded again. “Very well. You have heard Outsider Aaron Kejaur’s story and you have heard the opinions of some of our most respected masters. The normal penalty for trespassers is death, but I believe we have special circumstances. That brings us to the true question of the night: do we aid him or will we be the reason he fails? In the end, the decision is yours.” She bowed her head and spread her arms.

As the clearing burst into thunderous discussion, Ariel turned to Kye’yn impatiently. “Well?”

“‘Well’ what?”

“Don’t give me that,” she snapped. She lowered herself to a sitting position against the turnk, careful to keep her feet out of sight of those below them. “I know that look, you remembered something.”

He followed her example, leaning back against the trunk. “Nothing useful.” He seemed frustrated. He brushed his hair away from his face and sighed. “Senseless pictures. I’ve already forgotten most of them. So, what do you think they’ll do with him?” He waved a hand toward the clearing.

“Execute him, not enough believe him,” she said dismissively, glaring at her friend. “Don’t change the subject. He said something that made you remember.”

His eyes flashed angrily as he turned toward her. “Fine. I know he’s telling the truth.” The anger was almost instantly replaced by frustration. “I just don’t know how I know.” All but the sense of certainty and headache had already faded into a fog again.

She frowned and started to press him further, but a sudden hush below them drew their attention back to the Assembly. Isiael had been chosen as spokesperson, which did not bode well for Aaron. Saoirse gestured for him to speak, a resigned look on her face. Isiael’s smirk was evident even to the two eavesdroppers.

“Smug bastard,” Kye’yn muttered, leaning forward. Michelle and Ross were both sitting with their heads in their hands, surprisingly close together. Kye’yn noted that with a sinking feeling.

“Lady Saoirse, we’ve discussed the matter at hand and reached a majority consensus,” Isiael began, satisfaction marring his formal words. “There is little evidence for what the Outsider claims. We believe his words false, and do not desire to be taken for fools. To preserve the safety of our people, for his trespass into our lands, we condemn him to death.” With a bow to their leader, he returned to his seat. Silence lay thickly over the clearing.

“Infero’s flame, could he be any more full of himself?” Ariel whispered. She tried to ignore the part of her that was pleased with the vote. Aaron escaped one execution to face another; it seemed just to her.

Saoirse rose stiffly from her chair, disapproval in her every motion. “I will not disguise my displeasure with your decision. I believe you are all behaving irrationally. However, it is my duty to preserve this community, and that includes its government – even when I disagree with the collective decisions. Aaron Kejaur, though I regret your sentence, it will be carried out immediately.” She sighed. “Who of the apprentices is to carry out this unfortunate task?”

Immediately, Brandon stood. From across the clearing, Ross hissed at him to sit down, but he ignored his master. “I request that duty, m’Lady.”

She frowned at him, but gestured for him to take Aaron away. Aaron dodged his hands and crossed the small bridge to where she stood. Around the clearing, the elementals flew to their feet. The very air crackled with ready energy as all reached for their elements to defend their leader. But Aaron didn’t attack her. He merely grasped her hand and whispered something too low for anyone else to hear. When Brandon came to drag him away, he let him, struggling only slightly.

“Please!” he shouted back to her as he was taken from the clearing. She remained where she was, staring after him in surprise.

Ariel turned to Kye’yn to ask what he thought Aaron had said, but looked over just in time to see him drop from the tree and sprint off. “Kye’yn!” she hissed, but he was already out of earshot.

He raced through the trees, avoiding them with the supernatural speed of a person extraordinarily familiar with his environment. The paths might have been faster, but he didn’t want anyone leaving the assembly to see him pass.

He reached their home within a couple minutes. Flying up the ladder, his hands barely brushed the handholds. He went directly to the storage room and began rifling through the various trunks, flinging things from them onto the floor. “Damn it!” he hissed, pausing to think. A moment later, he flung the lid off a chest near the back wall.

Kye’yn tossed Aaron’s pack and sword over his shoulder and ran out the door again.

--

Strangely, he wasn’t afraid. Perhaps he had had too many near-death experiences in too short a time, but facing execution felt almost like routine. If the elemental leader did what he’d asked, then his message would reach the elves. The end of the world as they knew it wouldn’t be on his head. Even if she didn’t, it wasn’t as though he’d asked to be executed.

Though he really wished the young elemental behind him would stop poking him with that spear.

“Stop!” Aaron finally snarled, losing his temper. “I’m being perfectly cooperative. That’s unnecessary.” He glared at his executioner over his shoulder. “Why’d you ask to do this, anyway?”

Brandon looked surprised. “Well, interesting things don’t happen ‘round here very often.” Hearing how absurd his response sounded, he flushed.

Aaron snorted in disbelief. “You volunteered to kill me because you were bored?” There was something so ridiculous about that that he started laughing.

They were outside the village by now. Brandon prodded him in the direction of an overgrown path, cutting off his laughter with another sharp jab of his spear. They entered a small clearing lined by a low stone wall.

On the top of the wall were a number of skulls.

“That’s… morbid,” Aaron muttered. “So, how do we do this?” He kept waiting for the fear, but he felt almost giddy. Or maybe that was how hysteria began.

His only answer was a dull thunk and the sound of something large falling heavily to the ground. The spear dropped next to him with a lighter clink. He spun around, surprised.

Kye’yn pitched the stone he had hit against Brandon’s head aside and brushed off his hands. He slid the pack and sword from his shoulder and held them out to Aaron, who took them disbelievingly.

“What are you doing?” he asked. He hastily buckled on the sword belt, not that the weapon had been any use to him so far.

Kye’yn looked up from nudging Brandon with his toe. “Helping you. I’d think that was obvious.” His tone implied that he thought this idiot might not be worth saving after all.

Aaron looked from the unconscious elemental bleeding on the forest floor to the one standing in front of him. “I see.” He glanced between them again. “Ri’la tenia mezreh.”

Kye’yn stared at him in utter shock, then burst out laughing.

--

--

A/N: I've given up hope of posting regularly.

After this chapter, there will be no more of those little notes at the beginning. I find them annoying. I'll take them out of the previous chapters in a later edit.