Tamsin had convinced him to take just a couple hours of rest and Trik had finally relented. But now he was even more desperate to get her back, to convince her of his love. He was afraid that he had lost her, not just to Lorsan, but to her own doubt and anger. He couldn’t lose her, it was a fate worse than anything he could imagine and not one he was willing to accept. He rose quickly and gathered his weapons, his bow and quiver, and his knives that were concealed in his clothes.

In the throne room of the light elf castle he found Tamsin, Syndra, Elora, and Lisa sitting around a table. They all stood when they saw him walk in. They all looked at him warily. He must not have realized how crazed he had seemed before he laid down. He raised his hand motioning for them to sit back down and they did so cautiously.

“Relax, I’m not going to…” he paused not sure what he was going to reassure them of.

“Go bat shit crazy up in here?” Elora asked in her usual dry tone, though her eyes were flat and emotionless.

“Yes, that,” he agreed.

“Are you ready?” Tamsin asked.

Trik nodded. “Show me what it is the Tree Lords have left me.”

Trik followed Tamsin from the room and noticed that the others did not attempt to join them.

They entered a large room that appeared to be an armory. Weapons lined the walls, a warriors dream. Tamsin walked over to a cabinet that was heavily padlocked. He waved his hand over it and the lock clinked and the doors opened slowly. The inside was illuminated by an unseen light and Trik took a step back when he saw what the cabinet held.

“My sword,” he whispered in awe. The sword forged for him by the Forest Lords bestowed upon him when he became King.

“They also left you this,” Tamsin pulled out a small box from a shelf in the cabinet and held it out to Trik. He took it and his hands shook as he opened the hinged top. Inside sat one ring, though there were places for two. The ring in the box was his, the ring of the King, his signet. The other was meant for his Queen. The ring he had given Cassie, though he didn’t remember the significance of it at the time. He wondered what she had done with it. Had Lorsan found it? Had she thrown it away in a fit of anger?

He felt the power emanating from the ring and he pulled it from the box. He slipped it on his left ring finger and felt it warm around his skin as it sized itself perfectly to his hand. The air shifted around Trik and suddenly three Beings stood in their presence. Both he and Tamsin dropped to their knees before the Forest Lords.

“Lorsan has begun using Rapture in the human realm. It is time, Triktapic, to take back your people. Lorsan has to be stopped.”

Trik bowed his head. “I need to get her back.”

“And if she is lost to you?” The Forest Lords asked. “Will you still do what is necessary?”

Trik’sshoulders shook with anger but he knew what his answer had to be.

“If she is lost to me, then I will do what I must, but,” Trik looked up at the lords, “I ask that you have mercy on me and end this long life.”

“You would rather die than lead your people?”

“Tamsin can lead. He deserves it and is worthy to be called your child.”

The Forest Lords stared down at him and he felt like his soul was bare before them. So be it , he thought. See into the darkness I have let rule me, see that without her there is nothing good left.

Then he heard in his mind. “You choose goodness, you choose right and wrong. She is a constant reminder of that goodness, that choice. She does not make you good, nor does the absence of her make you bad.”

“Maybe not, but she makes me want to be a better man. I won’t live without her.” Trik stood and pulled the sword from the cabinet. He strapped it on his back and then turned back to the Forest Lords. “Tell me it’s not too late. Tell me there is still hope for her, for us.” Trik’s voice was soft but urgent.

“There is always hope, Triktapic. She lives, she is fading, but she lives. It will take much patience and love from you to get through what is to come. She needs you. You need to hurry, be swift, be strong and do not give up.”

Trik bowed his head to the lords and then to Tamsin.

“Light Elf King,” he said respectfully and then he turned and ran straight at the mirrored wall. He pictured his once homeland in his mind, pictured the small cabin that he had spent many lonely nights, worn out from a mission Lorsan had sent him on and emerged in the small kitchen. He wasted no time as he gathered food for the journey that Lorsan was bound to make difficult. He was out the door and sprinting in a matter of minutes. He knew exactly where he was going, knew how long it would normally take him to get there and yet he also knew that Lorsan could make it take days instead of minutes.

He stopped suddenly and turned in a circle looking at the trees, grass, and foliage around him. This was his land but he no longer felt welcome.

“I’m coming Lorsan!” He yelled into the empty air. “I’m coming to take back that which is mine!” He started running again and, had he not been expecting Lorsan’s attacks, he would have been bowled over by the large wolf-like animal that charged at him from the trees. Trik pushed hard with his legs and jumped over the beast. In one fluid motion he pulled his sword from its sheath on his back and turned so that when he landed on the ground he was facing his adversary.

The draug, as they were called in elvish, had a similar appearance to the wolves in the human realm, only they were much larger. Like Tao and Tyndril, the draug were more intelligent and could understand the elves.