Hidden Fire chapter 4

The bright moonlight made Arden close his eyes. A sweet smell rushed into his nose. The air was fresh, and he heard the faint sound of chirping birds. Peace flooded into his heart, as he lay there, listening.. Then he recalled the night before. Aunt Jane, Baldemar, his home.1

He sat up, and looked around. He was sitting on a wooden carved bed. There were two empty book cases in the room, and a small table beside the bed. The walls were white marble, as was the floor. He spotted his sword on the dresser across the room. He slowly got off of the bed, and his head started to throb. He touched the wound, hard skin surrounded the area that had bled. He walked towards the dresser, and picked up the sword. It no longer had the fierce glow of the night before, but just the metallic silver shine it had when Baldemar gave it to him. Baldemar.2

Tears filled Arden’s eyes. He sank down to his knees and cried. The shimmering, brown door opened, and revealed a tall shadow. It was tall and slim, but seemed graceful. There was a somewhat peaceful aura surrounding it.3

Arden stood up and grabbed the sword from the dresser, ready to strike. The figure raised his hand, as if not wanting to harm him. Arden lowered his sword. It walked out of the shadows, revealing it’s full character. It had short pointed ears, and white skin, with brown hair falling down to its lower back. It wore a tanned leather vest, over top a lamb’s wool tunic. A small bottle of crystal liquid hung at his waist. An elf. Arden was amazed. Only in stories had he ever heard of this peaceful race. He looked male, and wore a small grin.4

“Kyr tysol tor, pai o thaer shaer?”, the creature spoke in an unknown language. Arden’s face obviously looked confused, because then the elf spoke again.5

“I am sorry.”, the elf spoke, “I forgot that you do not speak the language of the Elves. My name is Istfael, we found you unconscious in your village. I am truly sorry for what you have suffered. We brought you to our home, here in Deaordin, about a ten nights journey from the Sael mountains.”6

“How long have I been unconscious for? Are there any more survivors? Are the creatures dead?”7

“Hold on a moment, I will answer your questions, just don’t ask so many.”, said Istfael, smiling. “You have been slipping in and out of consciousness for the whole journey, but you stayed asleep for about four days after. It is midnight right now.”8

“What about any survivors?”9

“Yes, yes, I am getting to that. No, unfortunately there were no survivors. We were traveling through the area of the village, coming back from a council meeting with our queen, but by the time we heard the howls, we were too late. The one remaining was killed by our rangers, but the most peculiar thing was how a young boy fended off three powerful creatures, and survived an attack. You did a good deal on the surviving one. I have a feeling about you, something inside you, something unique, powerful. Can you remember anything else that happened that night?”, questioned the elf.10

Images of the beam shooting out of his palm flashed through his mind. Instantly killing one of the creatures on contact.11

“Something happened, I can’t explain it. My sword...it..it glowed right before the creatures attacked, and when one of the creatures ran after me, I killed it, something came out of my hand. It seemed magic. I have never trained in magic though. I can’t understand.”12

Istfael gave him a hard look, not unkind, but more observant. Another elf, similar in appearance walked into the room. Istfael muttered a few words to him in Elvish, then the other elf walked out.13

“It is late, and you need to rest, sleep now, and when you wake, get dressed and go down the stairs, I will be waiting for you down stairs.”14

Istfael closed the door, and Arden heard his footsteps on the marble. Arden looked around his room. Trying to absorb everything that had happened15

He thought about the old life he had known, gone. Sleep was the last thing on his mind.16