Chapter Seventeen - Alderhaven

There were still a few hours of daylight remaining after their meeting with Kaocin, so Gaila offered them a tour of Alderhaven. This was a rare opportunity since few people had ever been to Alderhaven, and fewer still given a guided tour of the wood city. Gaila had gladly shown them around Kaocin’s palace. It was overly expressive throughout with its exotic plants that would put even Lorlean Dance to shame. There were portraits of old kings lining many of the grand halls, incredible woodwork, and even the scent in the palace left a certain feeling of power within Gaden. Everywhere they went seemed to enlighten him in ways he had never imagined. These creatures, the wood nymphs, were indeed a unique race.

It was a strange thing; in the middle of the Tulusbian forest, whose haunted trees filtered out even the brightest summer sun, there was this haven of light, beauty, and warmth. Gaden could hardly believe it was natural. The water that flowed through the wood city was so crisp and clear, it could be liquid diamond flowing through veins of green vegetation. It even tasted of purity. Exactly what the taste of purity was like, Gaden could not put into words. He only knew it filled him as he drank from the babbling streams that flowed through the carefully carved logs of alder trees.

The plant life thrived. It was as though the land of Alderhaven had never known winter. So vivid were the greens, the purples, the reds, and blues. They popped every few feet as though lit by spotlight for all to enjoy. Their scent was as lavish as their beauty. They stood tall and strong. Even the smallest plants did not want for strength.

The buildings of Alderhaven were carved with skill. They were not built just by virtue of function. They were clearly built by artisans. Every single structure had uniquely defined features, with masterfully cunning intricacies that blended them so well among the hills and trees of Alderhaven. Gaden was sure, no city like this had ever graced the face of the world before.

Their tour of Alderhaven consumed much of their day. Gaila was very thorough. But, of all the wonders and sights of the wood city, nothing quite captured Gaden like the training grounds. Gaila had led them to the far western side of the city where stood a tremendous wooden arch. Limbs of alder twisted around each other into an arch that stood at least fifty feet high. They walked through the arch, and Gaden felt his stomach lurch as he stepped up to the edge of a rail and looked down into a massive bowl.

Inside, was a vast gathering of other nymphs. There appeared to be an archery range in one corner and a wrestling ring in another. Everyone else seemed to be honing their skills with swords or other weapons in midfield sparing. Gaila led them down a staircase and into the main enclosure. Many nymphs stared at them as they entered. Undoubtedly, no human had ever infiltrated this enclosure before now.

“Let me show you some of our crafts,” he said to them, and he led them over to a set of cabinets behind an archery range. Gaila chose a bow from a nearby shelf and handed it to Gaden. He looked it over carefully. It was apparent it had been crafted from alder, but this came as no surprise to Gaden. The bow had been painted black. The drawstrings were unfamiliar to him, but his trained eye was able to see that they had seen better days. Gaden handed the bow over to Elric and Avan. Gaila pulled another just like it from the shelf. He also took an arrow and pointed with it down the long end of the range.

“Do you see the blocks out ahead?” Gaden looked along Gaila’s arrow. There were several different sized blocks placed strategically at the other end of the range. Some were closer, and others farther, but all of them had a number painted onto them.

“The higher the number, the more difficult the target. Our trainees are graded by the points they can accumulate while targeting the blocks.” Gaila pointed to the block with the largest point value. It was the farthest from them, and by the looks of it, it was also the smallest. It was positioned strategically so that it was deceiving to aim for it, partially obscured by other blocks of lower value. Gaila, however, seemed unbothered by this, and took aim. He held his shot for the briefest of moments before releasing the draw, sending the arrow sailing perfectly into the target’s center mark, earning applause. He nodded gracefully to the crowd.

“Impressive,” Gaden said, staring at the end of the arrow protruding from the block farthest from him.

“How is your shot?” Gaila took another arrow from the shelf and handed it to Gaden along with the bow. Gaden accepted them and took his stance behind the firing line. He raised the bow, heart thumping, well aware a crowd of nymph militia was watching him, the first human to shoot an arrow inside their own training arena. Gaden took aim at the same target Gaila just struck. He hesitated just long enough to gather his wits, before taking his fingers off of the protesting arrow. He looked out and watched it soar straight past his intended target. Quiet snickering and slights could be heard from the crowd.

“I think you’ve missed the objective,” Avan said. Gaden only just realized Avan was standing over his shoulder.

“Yeah? Let’s see your best, then,” Gaden said. Gaila handed Avan an arrow. Avan stepped up to the line and nocked his arrow. After only a second, he released it. The arrow flew so fast past his ear that his long hair was pulled into its wake. The arrow made contact with the corner of a target that stood between him and the target he had actually intended to hit.

“Ah,” he said, still holding the bow at shoulder height.

“Well, son, I would say well done, but I’m guessing you didn’t actually intend to hit that one, did you?” Elric said with a chuckle. Avan raised one eyebrow and slid back from the line without a word.

“I’ll have one more shot,” Gaden said. Between the chance for redemption and the risk of more snickering at his expense, redemption was too strong a temptation to pass up. Gaila plucked another arrow from the basket beside him and handed it to Gaden. Gaden, once again, took his stance behind the line. This time, he tried to tune out those who were watching him. He took his time, holding the arrow in loaded position, studying the trueness of the shaft, the angle of his elbow, even the design of the arrowhead. He listened for the wind. Gaden took one more breath, lined up his shot, and released. He didn’t move until he saw the arrow bury itself deep into that evasive block, that he had missed just moments ago. The shot had not been as precise as Gaila’s, but it was still within the acceptable area. He couldn’t help smiling with satisfaction, as he looked up to the silent crowd.

“I believe that is the first time anybody has ever hit that target on their second shot,” Gaila said. And for the first time, they heard a nymph sound a little bit surprised.

“He was a few inches off,” Avan said, grinning. “Still, though…” he trailed off.

“I want to show you one more thing.” Gaila walked over to another cabinet, which was locked. He pulled from his pocket a set of keys and inserted one into the handle of the cabinet. There was a number of strange items inside the cabinet, but Gaila pulled out a long wooden box. The box was polished a deep brownish red, so meticulously, it shone like glass.

“Over here,” he motioned for Gaden. Even Elric, who seemed to know so much about the nymphs seemed curious. Gaden followed Gaila to a small table on the sideline.

“This one is my bow,” he said, opening the box. “It is named, Thunderstring.” Gaden looked inside at the most magnificent bow he had ever seen. Inside the velvet encasement lay a jet-black bow with red string. The string was not as his bow, tied to either end of a strip of flexing wood. These were wound around a series of wheels and pulleys. Gaden noticed in red lettering across the front of the bow, was its own name, intricately penned.

“This is not the bow you had when you rescued us in the woods,” Gaden said.

“No, I do not bring this one with me to all places. It is too valuable, too rare.”

“What’s so special about it?” Avan asked.

“I’ll show you,” Gaila said. He chose another arrow and walked toward the line. He motioned for Gaden and Avan to stand on either side of him, ahead of the firing line. “I assure you, you are in no danger.” Gaila told them. They were uneasy, but took him at his word and stood where they were told to stand. Gaila nocked his arrow, raised the bow in front of him, and released.

Instinctively, Gaden and Avan both clapped their hands to their ears. The moment Gaila had released the arrow, a deafening crack split the air around them. Gaden was the first to notice the target at the end of the range. The arrow Gaila shot down the range was not lodged inside the target. Instead, there was a hole where the arrow should have been, the arrow was nowhere in sight.

“What was that?” He asked Gaila.

“A shockwave. This bow is so fast the enemy can’t hear the arrows coming. This bow is very destructive. That is why I do not normally carry it. It’s too destructive, and it’s too rare. My people have only managed to build nine of them. This is the sixth,” he said, holding up the bow.

“May I?” Gaden asked, holding out his hands. Gaila smiled and handed over Thunderstring.

“I see how it gets its name,” Gaden said with a grin. “This is masterful.”

“They were originally developed as a defense against the polgers. So far, this is the only thing we have been able to find that can get through their hide.” At this, Elric stepped forward.

“Defense against what?” He asked.

“Polgers,” Gaila said. “Have you not seen them?”

“No, I can’t say that I have,” Elric said.

“Count yourself lucky. They run rampant through this forest. Another product of Seevus’ curse. Like giant tigers with mouths wide enough to swallow you whole. Its body is covered in scales, like a serpent, but they’re as hard as stone. We can’t get through them. Their only weakness is underneath. This bow is the only thing fast enough to target their underbelly as they pounce.”

“And you have only made nine of them?” Avan asked.

“Yes, and we did well to make that many. These bows take decades to finish. The woods from which they’re made are honed and seasoned to perfection. Without that process, they would crack under their own force.” Gaden shook his head and handed the bow back to Gaila. Gaila locked up the bow and closed the cabinet.

“It’s nearly dusk. We will be expected soon. They are having a feast for us,” Gaila said, and he motioned for them to follow him out of the arena.

The feast that was prepared for them took place inside a grand foyer inside Kaocin’s palace. It was more of a party than a feast. Gaden was overwhelmed by the food. He had no idea what any of it was, but it was all excellent. There were four long tables piled high with various meats, vegetables, fruits, and sweets.

“What are these?” He said, tearing a great bite off some kind of bone.

“Polger,” Gaila said, matter-of-factly.

“Polger…” Gaden said through a mouthful of meat.

“Yes. It’s a delicacy.”

“Swallow,” Elric smacked Gaden on the back and laughed as he took a bite from his own leg of polger. After the initial shock, Gaden found he really enjoyed eating polger and found himself revisiting that table repeatedly.

The night wore on, and just as Gaden was about to find a place to sit and rest, wondering just how much longer the party would drag on, someone grabbed him by the shoulder, nearly pulling him down. Gaden turned quickly, preventing himself from falling over.

“Hi…” the person said, looking quite cross-eyed.

“Daea?” Gaden said astonished. “Daea, what are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“I am here… for you,” Daea said, pointing at Gaden with the glass in his hand, spilling it all over Gaden’s shoes. He seemed to be struggling to put his words together.

“Daea, are you… you’re drunk!” Gaden said in astonishment.

“I certainly am not drunk,” he hiccupped and swayed on the spot.

“Come on big guy.” Gaden grabbed him quickly before he fell over and steered him toward a chair. “Give me that.” Gaden took his glass from him and smelled it. He jerked his head away from the glass quickly and tried not to gag. “What are you drinking?” He asked in surprise. But Daea just started giggling uncontrollably.

“Don’t tell my dad.” And then giggled even more. Gaden slapped him. But this probably was not a good idea, because as soon as he did, Daea lost consciousness and fell out of his chair.

“Is that Daea?” Elric asked, astonished.

“Help me pull him up,” Gaden said, bending to lift Daea from the floor.

“What is he doing here?” Elric asked.

“I wish I knew,” Gaden grunted as they lifted him back to his seat. “I was just watching the party from over there, and Daea stumbled up to me.”

“But he’s drunk!”

“Yeah, couldn’t figure that one out either.” Gaden shook his head.

“Stupid boy. He probably had no idea what he was drinking. What good is he to us, now?” Just then, a tap on the shoulder made Elric turn around.

“What did you do to my help? He looks poisoned.” It was Garrin, and he reached out a hand to greet Elric.

“He may as well be poisoned, you should choose your help more carefully.” Elric stood with a smile and greeted Garrin.

“You’d be surprised, he’s actually quite useful when he has both of his feet pointing in the same direction.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Elric said, doubtfully. “Anyway, what are you doing here? When did you get here?”

“We arrived about an hour before this thing got underway. We were sent by Thale.”

“Will you be coming with us to Lorlea?” Gaden asked.

“Lorlea? Is that where they’re sending you? No, I’m to stay here and see what kind of trouble I can dig up from the woods, I suppose. He said to wait for further instruction.”

“Odd,” Elric said.

“I wonder what he’s planning,” Gaden said, looking to Elric for a sign, but Elric’s face was as straight and unreadable as it ever was. Realizing that Elric was not going to share his thoughts on the issue, Gaden sat back down. He was followed by the others.

They sat, exhausted, wondering if the feast would end soon. After a while, they were joined by Avan and Gaila, who informed them that a song was to be performed in their honor. Elric’s interest seemed to increase at this news, though Gaden couldn’t imagine why. Personally, Gaden was ready to find his bed for the night.

And then something happened which made Gaden jump to his feet. The lights in the hall were extinguished. The chatter of voices died instantly. He felt a hand pulling him back down.

“Gaden, sit down,” Elric whispered. “The nymphs are about to sing.” Gaden rolled his eyes, but did as he was told, and sat down.

Bliss overcame him. There was no other word for it. An inner warmth filled him and began to emanate from his very being. Music of such harmony and range that he had never experienced penetrated the heavy darkness. A tune of deep, mournful sorrow boomed from the nymphs.

This was not ordinary music. It did not seem to be directed at him. It seemed to flow from within him. It soothed his every fiber. It gripped him, he was entranced in its depth. Harmonies blended and dissonance collided without apology or regret. So strong was the tune that the very beat of Gaden’s heart ebbed and flowed with the rhythm of nymph song.

And then the tune relented. It began to ease its intensity into a calming, dreamlike state of wonder and amazement. It was like breathing for the first time. The victorious anthem began to surge through him like a roaring river. His very veins pulsed with the beat of the glory hymn. He felt emboldened by its unceasing strain. Sure that he could do anything he set his mind to, he clutched his own fist, ready to fight. But not before the tears began to fall.

As a young man grows wise with age, the realities of all things he always knew began to settle into him. Tears trickled unashamed as the song filled his heart. It touched his very soul. The tune eased. It started as a small whisper, then had risen like the roar of a mighty beast before willingly relenting and standing aside for the next in line. It was now time to depart. It was now time to allow another to take over in its place. The song had had its life and its triumph. And then Gaden realized as clearly as though he had written it himself. This song was Life’s Song. And this was odd, as he realized the nymphs had not uttered a single word.

The last strain echoed and died, and Gaden was released back to consciousness. He opened his eyes, wet with tears, and he was amazed to see that dawn had broken. The nymphs had sung the night into day.