Tales of the Foxsyn Arcanum:

The Twins of the Aletere - [Book 2] - In the Shadow of Dreams

Prologue

The bright shimmer of the setting sun flickered across the dunes on the horizon, setting the distant sky afire with the vivid hues of gold, tangerine and vermillion. Selera looked back down to the sheltered bay from the rocky outcropping that overlooked the beach. The Northern Wolf sat tethered to her anchor, waiting calmly. No longer holding onto the moniker the Lychen’s Fiddle, she was whole once more, her main mast refitted and her wounds mended. She watched as Alletair and Illias pushed the longboat back into the water, her husband continuing to push until he was in to his knees before pulling himself aboard. She frowned slightly, catching sight of him quickly turning back to look at her.

Two days had passed since they had left the port of the Enclave. The ashen look on Wrenna’s face when Lord Septye had walked out behind her carrying one of her bags was still haunting her thoughts. As she and Wrenna had returned to the ship, Setpye had gone to meet with his partner. The warrior that attended Wrenna had left with only a sharing of glances. Early that afternoon more than two score elves and dwarves combined walked the gangplank and boarded the Northern Wolf. The docks were awash with fear, even more so as some random elven crew members on board other boats had abandoned their posts and had approached the Wolf for safe passage.

What she did not expect was Lord Septye arriving in the early-afternoon, his cloaked partner at his side and an elven seaman who he introduced as the captain of a vessel that he had just procured. One of Wrenna’s men, he cut a strong figure, taking on all those that abandoned their posts on board other vessels. After Alletair had respectfully ushered Septye’s partner into the privacy of his cabin, Septye had left. Finally, as they were finishing up preparations to disembark, a number of people that Selera immediately recognised as fellow academics arrived, being escorted by Septye to the ship manned by its new crew. Guards had followed them to the waterfront, harassing them, their leader daring to protest the exodus.

Selera had stood at the railing, watching Septye speak a few quiet words to the guard who promptly left in fear.

“Aye, word’s getting out now. Earlier it was a number of elves and dwarves boarding a ship, they’d be happy to see them leave. But the academics…That’s something the prick Chancellor would be tearing his hair out over.” said Wrenna, settling at the rail beside her.

“Look, the new Lychen’s Fiddle is ready to cast off.” said Wrenna, nodding to the ship, its sails being unfurled and its Captain barking orders to its crew, “She’s going back down the coast, heading for the nearest friendly port.”

That night through to the next morning, the armed and armoured Northern Wolf anchored just outside the heads. The threat alone, stopping any thinking of chasing the Fiddle and its passengers and as the sun broke the horizon, the Wolf weighed anchor and was underway.

The following two days were spent in discussion. Most of the day in their cabin, talking and planning the next steps. She had been introduced to Martyn Septye’s partner, a wilderelf with bright hair and exotic features, even for an elf. Her eyes shimmering a startling golden colour. She had insisted on tending to Sialin for the trip up the coast, staying by her side for most of the time until the second morning. She had approached Selera, her voice low and with a strange accent.

“Your friend, Lia. Her condition is connected to the loss of your younger brother.”

“Lia? Sialin has not gone by that name in almost five years.” Selera stared at her, “You are familiar with those that harbour the Thread, Lady Hima?”

“I am acquainted with it far better than you realise.” Hima said with a faint smile, “Do not concern yourself, Lia will wake as soon as your brother’s sigil matures.”

“But how can it mature if he is gone? It is that sigil that gives me hope. It has not gone dark.”

Hima smiled gently, “I can not explain why it remains, but, she is safe here. Wrenna will keep an eye on her when we leave for the camp this evening. Then we will see what is possible and what is not.” she said as she turned to leave.

“Lady Hima, please. You speak as if you know her.” said Selera, strain in her voice.

Hima looked her in the eye, “I have met her before when she was a child. She is the adopted daughter of Eira, Chancellor of the Academy of Spyres. I recognise those eyes anywhere.”

Selera stared at her, “You have met Sialin before?”

Hima calmly laid a hand on Selera’s arm, “Yes, is it too hard to believe, considering who I am? The past evening I have watched her dreams, Lia is searching them with dogged purpose, Selera. She is searching for something. Once his sigil matures, she will wake.”

“But you are travelling with the Crimson Demon, he is her destined. If he were to…”

Hima smiled quietly, her eyes flickering strangely, “I have seen his mark on her and hers on him. He treasures it, he even had his armour made stronger over it. After you meet him, we will decide if he can be spared. But, we can not discuss this here and now.” she said calmly.

Hima brought a finger to her lips, shushing Selera’s thoughts before she could continue, “My love has agreed to assist you, but it must not impinge on our purpose of being here.”

Selera nodded, “Thank you, Lady Hima.”

“I suggest you get some sleep before… Yes?” Hima stopped, noticing Selera’s look.

“Illias, can I really trust him to safeguard the Wolf?”

Hima chuckled, “He must have made a bad impression over the last few years that you feel you need to ask this of a stranger.” she quietly looked around before closing her eyes for a moment, pulling her hood up to cover her head, she then gestured, “Come, Selera.”

Selera followed Hima as she walked out onto the main deck, passing sailors without concern. She nodded as some bowed, but continued, a smile playing on her face as she ascended the steps to the forecastle.

“Look, and ask that of me again.” Hima said with a whisper.

Selera followed her to the railing, to find Illias sitting on the small deck below in Sialin’s customary position. Lili was standing to the side, watching him intently, her eyes soft with concern. He was stripped to the waist, his back straight, the emblem of the order visible on his shoulder blade among countless scars.

“Did you not realise that we are against the wind? He has been controlling the weather off the coast for hours now.”

Selera stared at him, “He is not just converting the flow… Gods, look at the waves.” she said, meeting Hima’s gaze as she nodded.

“You forget, young wife of Alletair. Illias has been the sole Spell-Runner of the ship for many years, from even before Wrenna earned that scar.” Hima looked at him with a sad smile, “And now he has found purpose again. Your siblings’ disappearance and the events surrounding it have given it back to him.”

“He told me – about before, his betrothed, your daughter.” Selera said quietly.

Hima nodded slowly, her golden eyes watching Illias a moment longer before turning away, “Get some rest, Selera. We will be travelling by night.” she said, leaving Selera with her thoughts.

She looked up at the vibrant hued sky over the desert, the sun already half set. She turned away from the sight of the longboat and the Northern Wolf, lifting and shouldering her haversack of supplies and water skin. Her eyes caught both Martyn and Hima as they walked along the ridge of a dune a little distance off, the sand skating down from every step they left.

After consulting recent maps that Martyn had purchased in the city and checking them against those aboard the Northern Wolf, they had decided to strike out for a small oasis that marked two thirds of the way to their meeting point. A dusk to mid-morning trek that left no room for error. There they would rest until evening and meet with their camp before midnight. Selera glanced at the opposite horizon as she started to walk. The stars were already showing themselves and a partial moon was starting to rise before the last of the sun had set.

Within a couple of days they were going to explore a remote cache from before the destruction of the world, the remains of a bunker. Staring at Martyn’s back as he started to descend along the edge of the dune, she thought back to their discussion the day before.

“There are calculations for six.” Martyn said calmly, his finger pressed to the plans.

Selera nodded, sitting across the table from him, before looking up at Alletair as he turned the device over in his hands.

“Crafting materials for eight. But these energy calculations, six.” he glanced at Selera, “The other two I tracked down, they were also without charge, though one was damaged.”

He tapped the desk, “Apart from the one the children used, four remain, very likely with charge if undamaged.”

Alletair placed the device back on the desk, “And if you find one that does?”

Martyn nodded, “You may try to follow them and pray that it sends you to the same place. Though, I am out here in the desert for something of far greater importance than these trinkets that I could use your expertise on.”

Selera opened her mouth to protest, but she saw Alletair’s shake of the head.

“I would prefer you reconsider activating another, we do not have the means to trace where you could be sent. But I know those that do.”

“The Academy?” she asked.

Martyn nodded, “Think carefully between now and then. Don’t make a mistake in haste that could cost you more than you are prepared to lose. I firmly stand by waiting until returning to the Academy.”

“But it could take weeks to get back.”

Martyn shared a look with Alletair at Selera’s protest, settling his elbows on the table and making a temple of his fingers.

“Minutes.” he said, looking at her, “We find one that has charge, and I will have you at the inner atrium of the Academy within minutes, I am sure you know how to find Chancellor Eira from there. But…”

“But?” asked Selera.

“You will assist me in what I seek to your utmost until one with charge is found, be it four days or four weeks.”

Selera stared at him, “If you can reunite me with my brother and sister, I will pledge my…”

“If I reunite you with your siblings, you will remain in my employ at Alletair’s side as you have been. But if I ask for your cooperation…” he looked at her, his eyes glowering slightly, “It will be given. Without question.”

Selera stared at his back, slightly obscured by Hima as she followed him along the dune. After much thought she could not fault his demands, despite the simplicity of him asking that everything remained as it had. She frowned, all he had reiterated was that she understood her position. She followed, drawing closer and joining with them as they pressed on. Her thoughts strayed to Sialin, once Lia and the confrontation that would take place the following evening, the moment she met the Crimson Demon of Aldaliss. Selera sighed, glancing up in wonder as the final blush of twilight gave way to a crystal-clear sea of stars that stretched across the heavens.