ZACHARIAH

Twenty years. It’s been twenty years.

A mere drop in the ocean that was an Elemancer’s lifespan. But for me, it meant everything. Snow crunched lightly underfoot as the sun snuck through the canopy of barren branches. I thought of the last time I traversed this path. A child clinging to his father’s hand. Shivering in snow just like this.

“Bruneii?”

My head snapped up as Oji saw I’d paused. He looked at me with searching eyes, but I just shook my head and began to walk again. My horse, Wind, walked beside me automatically, hooves clacking on rocks and frozen soil.

A vein of the Silkendale River snaked through the forest, the cackle of cold water and ice mixing with the hush of snow. Ancient Thunderwood arced overhead at dizzying heights. Frost clung to the branches, blending the black into white.

Oji cut to the right, following the river north. He didn’t bother glancing at the sun or the trees for direction. He knew this path by heart. Humming a familiar melody, Renjin hopped from branch to branch above us, puffs of blue flame visible now and again as she warmed herself.

Crack.

My boot sank through ice and into frigid water. Looking down, I saw I’d stepped onto the embankment. My foot was lost in the burning cold as my skin went numb, the water cutting through the leather of my boots easily.

You need new boots, Zachariah.

I know, Rowena.

I paused, looking over my shoulder. The voice had been so near but, of course, there was nothing.

Eventually, we came to a downward slope where the river dissected the land. A cliff rose on one side as the other sank downward. The river split as well, part flowing from the cliff as another portion followed gravity. We took the low path, the cliff soon towering a hundred feet above us. Thunderwood trees stubbornly grew out of the side of the cliff, reaching to the sky. Columns of ice dripped down from their knarled roots to the ground below.

Twenty years, and yet I looked at it like it was the first time.

I gazed up, transfixed by the magnitude of the space. Most of the people who lived in Tumblend died there without seeing any other part of the world. How had it been so long since I’d been here? Then again, all I’d seen as a child was a set of gates closing. A mother who hadn’t bothered to look at me as my father dragged me away, tucking my tipped ears under my hair. He always did his best to hide all evidence of my Elemancer blood.

For all the good that did me.

The rush of the water became a roar as we neared the bottom of the slope. My feet and most of my calves were numb by now, and my breath turned to vapor in front of me. We were deep into the forest, fog drifting near the cliff and between the trunks of the great obsidian Thunderwood.

A series of huge waterfalls tumbled down from the cliff as we reached the bottom, vapor coming up in clouds around us. A single land bridge spanned the waterfalls from end to end. Oji kept walking, deep into his thoughts. He turned at the thirteenth break in the wall of water. Without so much as a backward glance, he walked into the gap, disappearing in the fogging vapors.

A second later, Renjin landed soundlessly next to him from the lower trees. The seemingly ever-present blue fire weaved between her fingers like a pet snake.

Oji was waiting when I finally caught up to them on my dead legs. Nodding in what I was sure was Oji’s version of comforting, he reached up to the stone. A symbol was carved within the wall. The figure of a fox-like face with curved horns coming from behind it’s ears.

Oji reached to the crown of the fox’s head, whispering in Kaze. Part of his tattoos flowed from his arm and into the stone, making the figure of Kenshi’s eyes glow for a brief moment.

A seam formed within the stone in moments, swinging inward on Oji’s beckoning.

Darkness met my eyes, and I could feel the heat from within wafting toward me.

Oji looked at me then. Seeming to want to say something, his eyes searched mine. Eventually, he settled for silence, turning to enter. Renjin clapped me on the shoulder, the fire scorching through my coat and shirt.

I hissed, though more in irritation. Damn her. I only owned four shirts, and this was by far the warmest. All my other clothes were largely borrowed. She grinned unapologetically, glancing at the burn hole she had made before nodding her head inside.

“Come now, Halfling. It’s rude to keep your mother waiting.”

I paused, hesitating. Twenty years. Suddenly it didn’t seem like long enough.

*******

We walked into the cliffside, a narrow tunnel at first. Sections of rock formed like braziers poked high out from the wall with fire nestled at the tops. The air grew warmer and more humid, soothing my frost-bitten skin.

Oji seemed as nervous as I was, though he tried to hide it. His face was too carefully blank, his steps a bit too fast. Eyes like dying coals glowed in the dark of the tunnel as he looked at me occasionally. Renjin followed behind us, reaching to touch the braziers. Some of the flame peeled away, turning from orange and red to her signature blue as it absorbed onto her skin.

The tunnel turned sharply, and I was suddenly blinded by sunlight. The cliff opened into a plateau on one side, the entire northern forest on display below us. Frosted branches with black trees atop a blanket of snow.

On the plateau where we stood was the Kenshi Ethereal Village. It was as large as Tumblend. Probably larger, with arcing buildings and everlights twinkling as the sun pulled toward the Yari mountains.

Grand buildings formed from the Thunderwood trees themselves, twisted with intricate doors and windows. I saw Elemancers of every age wandering between them. Speaking to merchants of every type. Stoking fires contained in stone. One was speaking softly to a tree, which dropped thunderwood branches. Those branches were then collected and taken into another Thunderwood building belching smoke. The distinctive white color of Source Flame glowed from within it as the Thunderwood was put within a kilm.

A forge.

I frowned, looking at the building. Elemancers never used a forge before. I looked and saw Oji looking at it too, a wrinkle between his brows.

Far to the right stood a particularly knarled tree, larger than the rest. Its roots extended out, touching the base of each tree I could see.

Sap seeped from the great tree, forming a structure of amber in its branches. A grand crystalline staircase extended up to it. At the head of the structure, also made of amber, was the figure of a creature with the head of a fox, body of a wolf, and curved horns on either side of its skull.

The creature, Kenshi, seemed to gaze upon the forest, eyes catching the light of the sun.

Pools of steaming water were located periodically along the village, some Elemancers lounging inside.

“Welcome, Bruneii,” Oji asked, indicating the village. I set my jaw, tracking his gaze. Looking out over the forest, it seemed like winter would never end. But as I stood there, sweat gathered on my skin. It was as warm as any summer day between the pools of bubbling water and roaring fires. Elemancers found ways to be comfortable year-round.

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I opened my mouth and closed it again, settling for a nod in reply.

Renjin huffed, shaking her head.

“Take it in while you can. Hells, take one of those mortal pictures,” Renjin said, padding up beside us. She indicated the amber building.

“Move, Halfling. Let’s get this done.”

“Renjin,” Oji said calmly, pushing his cloak apart.

“Prince, it’s cruel to make him think this is even in part his home. He’s here for information. Nothing more–”

“Tell my mother and father that we have arrived, Renjin” Oji cut in, an edge to his voice. A small wind accompanied his words, the burning red tattoos on his charcoal skin stirring. Renjin didn’t move. Her eyes slitted.

Oji’s eyes bore into hers as I glanced between them. I kept my mouth firmly shut, not wanting to fuel the fire. Seconds ticked by, and nobody moved. Some nearby Elemancers paused in their work, looking at their prince and his guard having a pissing contest. Even immortals weren’t immune to them apparently.

Oji’s chin tilted down, looking at Renjin over his nose.

“Now.”

The air pressure suddenly increased, making my eardrums pop. A wind, cold and biting, rushed toward Renjin as Oji spoke, his eyes glowing. Even though it wasn’t directed at me, I felt some of my skin scream in protest. A quick glance confirmed what I felt. A thick layer of frost glittered down the front of my clothes.

Looking at Renjin, I felt my brows lift. Her flames had gone out, a tendril of smoke trailing from her hand. A small tremor went through her hands as she visibly fought a shiver, the tips of her hair along with her clothes stiff with ice.

But it wasn’t half as impressive as the icicle now pointed at her throat, rising up from the ground. Gods. Here I was working with one element at a time, and Oji could manipulate two at once.

Renjin swallowed once. Twice. Finally, she turned and walked to the amber building without another word.

*******

“Welcome back, my son.”

Our mother, Queen Naya, only had eyes for Oji as we walked to a dais. Her hair was braided and coiled at the nape of her neck. An amber gemstone hung to her forehead from a chain encircling the crown on her head. Her mate, King Rhagav, stood beside her. He was gazing at a table on the dais, a map carved into its surface. A crown of interwoven thunderwood branches laid on his head, the branches forming the patterns of all four Elemancy tattoos.

“You have brought him?” asked Rhagav, not looking up. Oji didn’t break stride, leading the way up the aisle. He aimed for some chairs built in the wall. He motioned for me to follow, and I did. We sat side by side, waiting.

“Yes,” he said smoothly, sitting taller.

My mother finally looked at me, her pupils constricting as soon as she saw me sitting next to Oji. Her tattoos, bright red against skin the color of night began to stir.

The frozen river suddenly didn’t seem so cold.

The King of the Kenshi Etheral Tribe rolled his shoulders, thick with muscle, before straightening.

“Chosen of Death, you’ve been brought here to–,” he said evenly before cutting off.

Oji shot him a questioning gaze as the room went quiet.

“Father?”

Rhagav looked at me a moment longer, his eyes searching. He replied to Oji in Kaze.

“This is Death’s Chosen? I was expecting something…different.”

Yes, different, I thought. Someone with raven hair, violet eyes, and a very big mouth.

Rude, Zachariah.

Rude, but honest.

I blinked again, looking around. Gods, I needed to get some sleep.

Rhagav recovered, setting his jaw. A familiar wriggling blue flame caught my eye at the back of the room. Renjin smirked, standing sentry at the back with a few other cloaked warriors.

“Chosen of Death, thank you for coming,” continued the King in the common tongue.

“Please don’t call me Chosen,” I found myself saying quietly. I looked down at my hands, clenching them, I looked at where several tiny cuts had been from the chisel while I worked on Rowena’s grave.

They were gone now.

“Zachariah,” Queen Naya said lightly, looking at me fully, “His name is Zachariah.”

The King looked at her before continuing.

“Zachariah then,” he said, loosing a breath through his nose, “We are hoping you can shed light on the Abyssal roaming our lands.”

Looking up, I swallowed, my ears still ringing slightly from Oji’s Elemancy. I had heard of Abyssal’s before, but they were primarily a cautionary tale told in human towns. A story parents told children so they would behave, because otherwise they may be end up in the Abyss. The tale worked equally well on adults, because of what their purpose was.

To destroy your very being. No Hells. No Far Shore. Just ceasing to exist.

“I don’t know anything about an Abyssal,” I said, my voice cracking.

Rhagav’s brows rose, a flash of rage making his eyes glow.

“A beast made by Death herself kills an entire hunting party in a way that only it can, and you expect me to believe that you know nothing about of it?” he said, looking at me over his nose, “Don’t play games with me, Chosen.”

A muscle feathering in my jaw, I looked at the King directly. I felt my mother’s eyes on me, a silent weight.

Oji stood. Clearing his throat, he spoke to his father in Kaze, though I translated it automatically.

“Father, what more do expect him to say?”

He approached him, dropping his voice. However I still managed to hear.

“I’ve told you he would never loose a creature like that. What do you expect to learn from a Chosen who’s only been so for a few months?”

“The truth,” replied the King, the words more a growl than anything else.

I stood as well, my throat bobbing. I wasn’t prepared to voice what had been haunting me for the past few months aloud, but from the look on the Elemancer’s face I realized I would have to.

I coughed, drawing their attention again.

“I haven’t been able to commune with the Goddess since becoming a Chosen, or go to her Purgatory.”

Everyone in the room settled into preternatural stillness. Even Oji looked surprised. It was true. In the months since Rowena’s death, I hadn’t been able to return to Purgatory. I hadn’t felt anything different apart from the never-ending pull of the soul Marks on my back. No shadows. No Chosen gifts.

I would have doubted it happened at all if not for the dreams of the shifting mists. Of the endless whispers and screams.

My mother searched my face, a low hum from the back of her throat.

“He is telling the truth. He is among the touched, but I sense no deception.”

I looked at her, but she had already broken her gaze.

The King’s jaw clenched, looking at his mate. She stood and looked at him unflinchingly. Something seemed to pass between them.

“Apologies Zachariah,” he said, closing his eyes and massaging the bridge of his nose.

“You must forgive my suspicion. It feels as if the last war just ended, and now we face another with the humans.”

He looked at me then, and I saw surprise fleck across Renjin’s face as well as the others. The King settled his cloak more fully on his shoulders. He raised his voice, the tone easily heard by all in the room.

“This war will likely be worse. Much blood will be spilled, and every drop is a violation against the Lady of Life-”

“Father the war is not yet started, and we still do not know what the humans seek,” Oji interjected, his voice clear and strong. The King’s next words were only for him.

“I hope you are right, but I have the burden of age.”

Another look at me.

“If you do not know why this creature is roaming our lands, Zachariah, then I will task you with trying to find it and return it to the darkest realm. None but you can do this. We will need every warrior for what is to come.”

He did a slow circle then, eyeing everyone while his hand trailed along the lines of the map carved into the table. Something passed between them with each shift, The warriors clenching their hands over their hearts as Rhagav met each gaze, took in each scar and battle-hewned expression.

Finally he strode to me, eyes blazing.

I tensed, ready for anything, but the King just extended his arm to me, palm out. I did the same, and we gripped eachother’s forearms. The King lowered his voice so only I could hear.

“Our laws have not made your life easy, but trust that they exist for a reason,” he said, his throat bobbing. He looked tired. How many of his people were now facing a second war? A war with a race that they’ve already lost to.

“I intend to change things after the dust settles. If I get the chance.”

His grip tightened.

“And when the horns of war sound, because I’m certain they will, I hope you will stand with your mother’s people. Or at the very least not stand against us.”

I simply looked at him, unsure if he was saying this because of some long guilt or…or…

Or because I was Death’s Chosen, and the King of the Kenshi Ethereal tribe was frightened. I could see it in his eyes clear as day.

Frightened of seeing his people slaughtered.

Frightened of being the King who would see the end of Elemancers.

Frightened of the Chosen of Death.