I knew the way to the sacred hollow. Lorn had taken me there on occasion, as it was a mass of unfettered magic and heavily guarded by the Denizen. Twelve elves that had forsworn all worldly pleasures and titles vowed to give their life to protect the sacred hollow.
As Ardax and I approached the sacred hollow, we had to pass the closest Denizen. His armor was a pure white, a silver staff in his hand; his eyes never flinching as he manned his post, facing away from the sacred hollow. In the past, I had tried to make the Denizen laugh with silly faces, antics, and even bribed them with food. They never lost focus or even moved.
Lorn had explained that nothing I could do would sway them. They had taken a magical vow.
“It’s the highest honor to be chosen as a Denizen,” Lorn had said. “The ruling families in each realm chose their fiercest and finest warriors, and they were sworn with a magical vow to protect the hollow.”
The Denizen lifted his spear, unblocking the way and allowing us passage into the sacred hollow which was surrounded by willow trees. As we walked under their wispy branches, we passed through another veil of magic. As I slipped through, I could feel the same sensations wash over me. I could feel my heart flutter, my skin grew warm, and my eyes turned glassy with unshed tears again.
Ardax noticed my emotions at passing through the veil, and he seemed stunned by the tears I was trying to blink away. “Does our magic really affect you?”
“It’s beautiful, Ardax.” I nodded. “Your magic is the most beautiful thing I have ever felt. It’s like a song in my soul and it weeps with joy.”
He shook his head in disagreement. “No, not my magic.”
“All magic,” I answered.
He became quiet at my admission. I waited for him to come back with a retort, but he didn’t. In fact, when we came to a slippery part of the moss-covered stairs, he took my elbow and braced my back in support.
“Why are you being so attentive?” I asked suspiciously.
“Because tonight you are my guest, and I will treat you with respect,” Ardax said.
“But only tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I’m half expecting you to push me down the stairs.”
Ardax paused, then looked around. “I’m waiting for when there are more people watching. It will make a better spectacle.”
I narrowed my eyes and watched his lips. There; the slightest twitch. He had made a joke. But it had almost been lost because his expression didn’t match.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry. I’m sure I will do something absurd and accomplish that all on my own. You don’t even have to get your hands dirty with the human girl.”
Ardax blinked, and the hand on my back stiffened. Had I offended him? His pacing became off, and I looked up and saw what caught his eye.
Rulah, her red hair flowed down her back with a simple silver braided band around her brow. Her pale skin looked like moonlight as she was dressed in a beautiful, sleek silver dress. Percy stood by her side. He looked fierce; his blond hair braided into one plait, his ears accented with gold and emerald studs. He wore a matching gold braided circlet, and it was the first time I saw him. Not Percy, my friend and comrade in mischief, but Percival, a beautiful and eternal elf.
Rulah slipped her hand through his arm, and she practically glowed with happiness at being at his side.
My mouth went dry. Even from here, the couple radiated power, and I could feel it reverberate throughout the clearing. Or maybe it was the ire that was directed toward me. I could feel the coldness as soon as his eyes met mine. I didn’t dare smile, not even when his lip raised in the slightest disdain as he saw Ardax’s hand still on my back.
I tried to take a step, but my legs trembled. Ardax’s grip tightened, and his hand slid around my waist as he steadied me.
The chill grew, and I could feel the coldness seep through my skin.
“Steady,” Ardax whispered as he helped me down the final steps into the courtyard.
“I’m trying.”
“I was talking to myself,” he countered. I looked up, and Ardax’s eyes were glued to Rulah, who was leaning close and speaking to Percy—while Percy was tracking my every move. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Ardax’s hand on my arm.
My mouth went dry, my heart fluttered, and I had to look away or be burned by the searing intensity of his gaze.
We walked to an open area that looked down on the ceremonial platform. It was a stone circle engraved with the symbols for air, earth, fire, and water. Rethulian, the current elder of the council of elves of the Northern Woods, stood in the center, his iris no longer silver but a pure white.
“It is time,” Rethulian’s voice echoed into the glade, “for the ceremony of gifts. Today we thank the earth for her magic as she bestows her gift upon our children. Let us welcome, Paris.” All the elders gathered together around the platform and a young elf child dressed in white stepped forward, her hair braided into knots on the crown of her head, flowers threaded throughout.
I had only seen Paris a few times in passing. Since my life was spent between training and being on the road, I had very little interaction with the other elves. Paris stood in the middle of the stone platform, with each of the runes and symbols for the elements surrounding her. I could feel the hum of the ley line under the platform and could see the magic seeping through and floating away like ashes after a fire. I was grateful for the magic being so near.
Having never been witness to the affinity ceremony, I had only been told what would happen. The elder would greet the child and each of the elements would pay her greeting in turn. The strongest element would not just greet her, but claim her. All elves had elemental magic, but they were strongest in one area and that would become their identity. I wondered what it was like to be claimed by magic?
Rethulian raised his hands and spoke in a voice that commanded respect. “Paris, the earth welcomes you.”
As he spoke, the symbol representing the earth glowed brighter, and flecks of gold flickered up from the earth before dissipating and fading.
“Paris, water welcomes you.” Like before, the water symbol glowed, and blue droplets of water rose out of the ground in greeting before falling like rain onto the stone.
My fingers fidgeted as I looked beyond the stone circle and saw the veil of magic above the willows flicker ever so briefly. As if a rock was dropped on the veil and the magic ebbed out from a central point.
I grasped my chest in fear, feeling my heart thudding loudly. Was it me? Was I doing something to the magic of the veil?
Air was next to greet Paris, but I was no longer watching the ceremony below. I was staring with narrowed eyes at the spot across from me. I didn’t know it at the time, but I grasped Ardax’s hand and squeezed.
“What’s the matter?” he grumbled, but stiffened when he saw my fearful expression.
“There,” I whispered and pointed with my chin. “Across the sacred hollow. Do you see it?” Ardax wasn’t the only one watching me because Percy turned to follow my gaze.
Nothing happened. Long seconds ticked by, and I thought I was going mad. Seeing things. I could feel Ardax’s frustration at my distraction, but then he tensed when a flicker came across the veil again.
“Something’s wrong with the veil,” I said.
“Nothing’s wrong with the veil,” Ardax argued. “It has never failed.”