Chapter Ten: Leaving Kine'e

Kacien didn't sleep. He didn't need to. Instead, he sat on a comfortable chair in the corner of the room, with his eyes closed. Occasionally, he would get up and add logs to the fire throughout the night, as everyone else was asleep.

The room was tight, but it was warm. Outside, Kacien could hear harsh winds blowing against the Inn. The windowpanes shook in place and the old building moaned. He watched the fire burning in the stove and fell deep into thought.

Kacien stood at the banks of a large lake that sat in the center of Inkwell Forest. The lake had many tributaries and aided to the growth of Kacien's forest. In turn, his forest gave the lake protection, cooling it in the summer heat.

Beside Kacien stood a man with copper hair, sprinkled with gray. Venet had been the protector of the lake only slightly longer than Kacien had been protecting the forest.

"I don't understand," Kacien had said. "Why now?"

"The time for Elementals is coming to an end. The lands do not need us to watch over them, the way they once did." Venet explained. "The seas have already lost a large portion of their Elementals. We have known for some time that our era is coming to an end. Mortals are said to be the caretakers of this land, once the Age of Iron arrives."

"But it is not yet the Age of Iron," he countered.

"True, we have some time, but I believe that the Mortals have matured quicker than we imagined."

Kacien scoffed. "You must be joking. They fight each other like feral dogs."

Venet gave a soft smile. "It is true. But they also love without bounds. I have seen it for myself."

"So, you're leaving because you think Mortals will protect your lake?"

Venet nodded. "I think they will protect this world."

Kacien shook his head. "They may love, but they hate as well. Even when the Age of Iron arrives, I am not confident that leaving these lands to them is such a good idea."

"You have been on these lands for a long time, Kacien," Venet said. "There was once a time that us Elementals struggled with things like jealousy, fear, and anger. We fought each other much like the Mortals, yet we became proficient protectors of this world."

Kacien only sighed and gazed out at the alpine lake. "You think too highly of them."

"Give them a chance," Venet said.

"And what if I'm disappointed?"

"Then stay. You do not need to come with me."

Kacien nodded, looking back at his forest. "I'm not ready to leave."

"That is understandable," Venet agreed. "But I beg you, give the Mortals a chance. Stop scaring them from Inkwell."

"If they fear magic, then they are not ready to protect my forest."

Venet only laughed. "Open your heart to the Mortals, Kacien. You may be surprised."

Kacien, now finding himself surrounded by mortals, couldn't help but think of his good friend, Venet. He chuckled quietly to himself as he stood from his spot beside the stove. Standing, he walked silently to the door and down the stairs.

"Kacien," said a voice.

He turned to see Lydka moping the floors of the Inn. "Good morning," he said. "It's awfully early to mopping the floors."

The older Mortal shrugged. "I couldn't sleep after the festival."

Kacien nodded.

"I spoke to Wren," Lydka said.

"I figured you would," Kacien said.

"I...I assumed that she was close with you, when you came in here. But you didn't even tell her about Inkwell-"

"And why would I? What could she do?"

Lydka leaned the mop against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. "I see you haven't grown much in our years apart," she said in a frustrated tone. "I thought having a child might-"

"Orla is not my child by blood. She is-"

"Still your child," Lydka said raising a brow. "Does she, at least, know what is happening to her home?"

"No," he said. "And Inkwell will not be her home for long. She's moving back to where she belongs..."

Lydka watched him for a moment, with a tired expression. "I thought you'd change."

Kacien rolled his eyes and leaned back against a wall. "Don't act like you have any idea what is happening to me or my forest."

"I don't. Because you'd never tell me everything. I shared everything with you, and you gave me only a piece of yourself. It was a beautiful piece but...those you love deserve to know the terrible parts as well," she said.

"Old age suits you," Kacien said bitterly.

Lydka began to laugh. It started as a chuckle and soon became a full-bellied laugh.

"Oh, Kacien," she said through the laughter, "Someday, you will meet someone just as stubborn as you are."

Orla was tired even before she woke up. While the Fhyre festival had been incredible, it hadn't left her with much time to sleep. Before leaving Kine'e, Lydka made Orla, Wren, and Kacien a large breakfast. Orla was thankful to have a fully belly, however it seemed to only slow her down.

The day was cloudy, and snow threatened to fall, but had yet to start. Kacien lead the way with Wren following closely. Orla had felt that he had been strangely quiet ever since they left Kine'e. She felt it was best to give him space.

"I wish we could have stayed another night in Kine'e," Orla said.

"It was nice there," Wren agreed, kindly. "But the sooner we get to the mountain, the sooner we can all go back home."

Orla nodded in agreement as they trudged through the sloppy snow.

For most of the day, the group of three traveled in silence. Around midday heavy snow began to fall. Cold air blew in from the north and the once-sloppy ground turned solid once again. The clear view of the mountains faded away into a blur of white.

Snow covered Orla's head and shoulders as she walked. Even with the hood of her cloak up, it was a cold journey. She held Peridot closely to her chest beneath her cloak. The cat was grumpier than usual from the cold weather.

The terrain around them began to change. There were no trees, only rocky hills that became steeper and steeper as they grew closer to T'esmunda. The trail was slick and Orla's feet ached from travel.

That evening Kacien, Wren, and Orla camped out in the open. There were no trees or caves to protect them from the weather. So, Kacien built a warm fire and started melting a pot of snow on the warm embers.

With the snow turning into boiling water, Kacien made a warm meal out of simple ingredients he had conjured into his presence. They ate in silence, each of them worn out from the day's journey. After eating, Kacien piled more wood onto the fire and stepped away from the group.

To Kacien's surprise, the morning brought in a warm sunrise. Pink, purple, and blue flashed across the sky. He sat beside Orla as she slept.

In the silence of the morning, Kacien ran his fingers through his hair. He found himself growing comfortable in the company of Wren. He wasn't sure how he felt about this discovery.

Kacien told himself that he couldn't get too used to the company. Soon, Wren would go back to the seaside and Orla would go south. Kacien would be left alone in Inkwell to spend whatever remained of his lifetime.

He had made peace with the idea that Ombu may not help his forest. If she didn't, Kacien would know the Great Silence much quicker. Like Venet, his old friend, he would become nothing more than stars and a story.

It took two more days of travel to reach the base of T'esmunda. The days went by smoothly.

To pass time, Orla took to singing songs about fairies and sprites. In return, Wren told her a long story about pirates that Orla seemed to enjoy greatly. For the most part, Kacien was quiet. Only occasionally, he would add to the conversation.

"So, tomorrow we start climbing up that?" Wren asked one night around the campfire. She gazed up to the massive mountain that sat beside them.

"Yes," Kacien said, warming his hands near the fire.

"We get to be real adventurers," Orla said, gazing up in awe at the mountain.

Wren chuckled gently. "Not many have seen this far north," she said to Orla. "Let alone a child as young as you."

Orla smirked and gazed at the outline of the great mountain. Under nightfall, it was becoming hard to make out the mountain's edge. Orla could only see it because it was the only spot where she could not see the stars.

"Do you think the stars will be larger from atop T'esmunda?" Orla asked.

"No," Kacien said, "but the world looks much smaller. Even Inkwell."

"Kacien," Wren said after a moment of silence. "The other night...in Kine'e, Lydka said something to me that I've been meaning to ask you about."

Kacien looked at the wolf. "What did she say?"

"She told me that Inkwell was dying."

Silence fell upon the group. Only the sound of the crackling fire could be heard as Orla turned to face Kacien.

"Well, that's not true," Orla said quickly. "I'm sure Kacien would know if his forest was dying."

Wren's dark eyes drifted from Orla to Kacien. He said nothing.

"Kacien?" Orla looked at him, the color draining from her face, slightly. "That's a lie...right?"

The Elemental let out a long sigh. "Lydka is a worried woman by nature. She knows nothing about the health of Inkwell."

Orla felt herself relax just a little. The idea of the forest dying was unbearable. Inkwell was her favorite place in the world. It was her home.

"So, Inkwell is alright?"

"Inkwell is fine," Kacien said.

Wren laid her head down on her front paws and gazed at the fire. "The sooner we make it to Ombu the better. I'd like to become myself again."

"Then we will rise early, tomorrow," Kacien said.