Pool of Twilight - James M. Ward [99]
Listle's shoulders sagged. "The dolphins dropped us on the shores of Evermeet, and ever since we've all been fleeing from Sifahir's minions. He means to recapture us, and he wants me most of all." She fidgeted with her necklace. "It has been over three years since the last attack. I had started to think that maybe he had lost us forever. But I know now that I was wrong. Sifahir will never rest until he's regained the necklace and exacted his revenge."
"What will happen to you?" Kern found himself asking, almost against his will.
Listle stared at the others. "I'll become an illusion once again."
A silence descended on the small clearing. Kern tried to sort out all Listle had told him. The elf had always been unpredictable, but this-this was unfathomable. A dozen emotions clashed in his heart. Sorrow that Listle had known such anguish. Anger at the evil mage that dogged her footsteps. Fear that the elf might vanish in a puff of smoke at any moment. But most of all, he felt a profound confusion. Only a short while ago, after she had kissed him, he had seen Listle in a whole new light. Feelings he had never imagined before had stirred in his heart. But now he didn't know what to feel. How could he love someone who wasn't even real?
Listle stood, her jaw set, with deep sorrow in her eyes. "I'm sorry I've lied to you all for so long. I… I can understand if you want me to leave." She started to gather her things.
"Listle, do not-" Miltiades began, but he was interrupted by two brilliant sparks of light floating into the clearing. Both were a shimmering aquamarine, though one spark was slightly more green than blue, and the other slightly more blue than green. Abruptly the sparks flashed, and in their place stood two ancient, sweet-faced elves.
"Brookwine! Winebrook!" Listle exclaimed.
Trooper raised a bushy eyebrow in surprise, casting a glance at Kern. Kern nodded, confirming the paladin's unspoken question. These were the two elven mages from Listle's story.
"Listle," Brookwine began in his tremulous voice, "we are so glad that we have-"
"-found you," Winebrook went on without pause. "Primul sent us to warn you that-"
"-one of Sifahir's minions has discovered your-"
"-whereabouts. You're in terrible-"
"-danger!" The two elves finished as one.
Listle sighed, reaching out and holding their fine-boned hands. "I know," she said glumly. "I was attacked a few hours ago. But that particular beast will trouble us no more, thanks to my friends here."
Quickly she relayed the tale of their encounter with Sifahir's illusionary minion. When she finished, the two wispy mages bowed deeply to the others.
"We are most grateful for-"
"-your slaying of the beast-"
"-that sought to deliver us into-"
"-Sifahir's hands once again."
The elves smiled their beguiling smiles, eyes glowing green-blue and blue green.
"Er, don't mention it," Trooper said, seeming at a loss as he turned his gaze from one mage to the other.
"Can you stay a while?" Listle asked the two ancient mages hopefully, but Brookwine and Winebrook shook their heads.
"I'm afraid we dare not-"
"-linger, dear Listle. We must return to-"
"-inform Primul of this development," they said in their fluid manner.
"You know how the green elf thinks us-"
"-to be flighty, and how angry he-"
"-gets when we dilly-"
"-dally."
Listle laughed despite her recent ordeal. Seeing her old friends always lifted her heart, no matter the circumstances. "Take care, you two," she whispered, hugging them tightly. "And don't let Primul bully you." In a wink the mages vanished, and two glowing sparks fluttered out of the clearing.
Listle fell silent then. Her worst fears had been realized. Her secret had been revealed. She knew the others would never regard her the same way again, especially Kern.
Trooper