Braydon gaped in stunned silence. Yanti snapped hisfingers, bringing the first mate out of his stupor.
“Get to it,” Yanti ordered.
Braydon grabbed the wheel and carefully guided the boatto the western bank, while one of the deck hands retrieved Yanti'shorse from below.
Yanti returned to his cabin and gathered his belongings.The Vrykol stood patiently in the corner.
“I hope you don't mind walking,” said Yanti,feigning concern. “We have far to go.”
The Vrykol made no response and followed Yanti topside.The gangplank had been lowered though it did not quite reach theshore.
“This is as close as we could get without runningaground, my lord,” Braydon explained, his voice filled withtrepidation.
Yanti looked at the first mate for a long moment. Thenturned and stowed his belongings on his saddle. The Vrykol leaped tothe shore with unworldly strength, bringing gasps and murmurs fromthe crew.
“If I were you, I would forget you ever saw me…or my companion.” Yanti mounted his horse. He reached in thepouch on his belt and held up a silver coin. “Do we understandeach other?”
“I… I understand,” replied Braydon,trembling.
Yanti tossed the first mate the coin and urged his horsedown the gangplank. He cursed as water drenched his boots. Heconsidered killing the first mate for a moment, but dismissed theidea. Braydon had already ordered his men to pull up the plank andshove off.
“I know your kind are fast,” Yanti said tothe waiting Vrykol. “You will need to be.” He spurred hishorse west into a dead run, not bothering to see if the Vrykol wasfollowing. He knew the creature was not far behind.
He reached into his jacket and touched the letter. Hewould not allow his plans to fail… even if it meant that thegodling had to die.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“It is time,” said Linis.
Gewey opened his eyes slowly, allowing the connectionwith Kaylia to slip away. He felt rested and strong. The echo ofKaylia’s final thought rang through his mind. I'mwith you… always. He sat up, swung his legsover the side of the bed, and stretched.
“I've laid out your clothes.” Linis noddedto the corner. “I've chosen soft leather for you. It will allowyou to move freely, while giving you some protection.”
Gewey smiled. “Thank you.” He rose to hisfeet and dressed. As he attached his sword to his belt, Theopolouentered. Akakios followed just behind.
“I will be awaiting you in the Chamber,”said Theopolou. His eyes were somber, and for the first time Geweynoticed age on his face creeping in. “You should wait here foronly a few minutes after I leave. I am told Eftichis is alreadythere.”
Gewey's lips tightened. His connection with Kaylia hadreleased the stress of the coming fight, but the mention of hisopponents name brought it flooding back. “I'll be there. IsFelsafell with you? ”
“No,” Theopolou replied. “He wasalready gone when I went to his room.” Before Gewey couldreply, Theopolou and Akakios bowed and left.
Gewey took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.
“Remember why you fight,” said Linis. “Andremember what you are. To face you is to face death.”
This stabbed at Gewey. He knew it was true. Sinceleaving his small village, death had become a part of his existence.He had killed… many times. Now he was to kill again. Once more hewould be the bringer of death. He steeled his wits. Sobe it.
Linis looked Gewey over for a moment. “Good. Youhave the same look in your eyes as Lee did, just before he foughtBerathis.”
Gewey checked his sword and made his way to the door. “Iknow what I must do.” With that, he pushed back the flap andmade his way to the main hall.
After only a few minutes Gewey decided he had waitedlong enough and left the tent. The chill of the morning air washedover him. He filled his lungs and surveyed his surroundings. The campwas quiet. Only a few scattered elves roamed about. Gewey guessedthat most were waiting in the Chamber of the Maker to witness thepudnaris. Thestillness made him shiver.
As he made his way to the Chamber, the few elves heencountered stared at him, not with hatred as he would have thought,but in wonder.
“Why are they looking at me like that?”Gewey asked.
“They marvel at your courage,” Linisreplied. “I imagine most thought you would flee.”
“Perhaps I should,” Gewey joked. “MaybeI should just grab Kaylia and head east.”
“I wish that were possible, my friend. If it were,I might even come with you.”
“I doubt that very much,” said Gewey, with alaugh.
The Chamber of the Maker was no less impressive by day.In fact the light of the morning sun caused it to glow even brighter.As they approached, the rumble of the crowd grew more intense. Geweydreaded the silence his arrival would cause. His heart pounded inanticipation. Just as he reached the entrance, he spotted Felsafell,leaning lazily against the statue base. He was dressed in hiscustomary skins and carried his gnarled walking stick.
“I see you come,” said Felsafell. “Isee you go.”
“Aren't you coming inside?” asked Gewey.
“I care not for fighting,” he replied. “No,indeed. When the young fights the younger… sadness only… sadnessand pain. I wish not to see such things, oh, no.”
“Then you are leaving?” asked Linis.
“For now,” answered Felsafell. He took a fewsteps forward. “We'll meet soon enough. Again and again, Ithink.”
“You know more than you're saying,” saidGewey.
Felsafell grinned impishly. “I know much. I tellmuch. But do not tell all, as I do not know all. Find your road childof heaven. I'll meet you alongside.” Ashe walked passed Gewey and Linis, he stopped and pressed a small keyinto Gewey's hand. It was gold, and bore no markings.
“What's this for?” Gewey asked.
“What is a key for, you ask.” Felsafelllaughed. “You know this already. Oh, yes, you do. And now I sayfarewell.” He continued until he was out of sight. Gewey shovedthe key in his pocket and looked at Linis, who only shrugged.
“I suppose it's just another one of hismysteries,” said Gewey. “If I live through this, maybeI'll solve it.”
The moment he and Linis entered the Chamber fell silent.He peered down to the Chamber floor. There stood Theopolou, Eftichis,and another elf he assumed was Eftichis' second. Eftichis was dressedas he had been the night before, a long knife hanging loosely fromhis belt.
As Gewey approached, his eyes met with his opponent’s.Their gazes locked for what seemed like an eternity. Gewey knew thatsoon those eyes would be dull and lifeless by his hand. He pushed thethought from his mind and turned his attention to Theopolou.
Theopolou addressed Eftichis. “I ask you one lasttime to withdraw from this challenge.”
Eftichis drew his weapon slowly and leveled his gaze. “Iwill not.” His voice was even more determined and commandingthan the previous night. “This… human, shall either flee,never to return, or die.”
Gewey drew his weapon, allowing it to draw in the flow.The power within him grew until the very foundation of the Chambertrembled. The world around him seemed to grow small andinsignificant. The elves before him, as well as those in the gallery,were as children to his eyes. The Chamber of the Maker itself was athis command. He had never felt so much of the flowpass through him before.
Then it occurred to him. The building itself was made bychanneling such power. Inside this structure, it was as if a riverwith the power of the earth became a raging hurricane. He tookanother look at Eftichis. The elf was frightened, though he tried tomask it.
“I ask you one last time,” Gewey's voiceboomed, causing the others to wince. “Do not do this.”
“What are you?” screamed a voice from thecrowd.
“Demon,” cried another.
“I am no demon,” Gewey said to the crowd.“You will find out soon enough what I am.” He turned backto Eftichis. “Do you still wish to fight me?” He tried tolessen his hold on the flowbut an aching sadness replaced it, along with a yearning for itsreturn. Still after a few moments, he managed to release it.