Summon the Elven Mage, Barbara Ferrier [ebook reader with highlighter .TXT] 📗

“Hello, Kris. You’re doing well. Let’s have another look at your leg and back,” she said.

The two followed her into an examination room.

Ivy looked at his leg and back, then got him some herbs from her storehouse while Kris looked at the building, hidden so deep in the forest. Ivy placed the herbs in his cheek.

Then she examined Kris through her crystals. “I recommend you spend some time in the forest and enjoy all the living things here. That will likely cleanse your remaining inflammation and reduce the pain you feel. Go to the Kinizar Falls as a first stop. The mists are quite healing there. I think you’ll love it.” She smiled.

“The Kinizar Falls are amazing,” Sylvia said. “Come, I’ll show you.”

The two walked out the door, and Sylvia opened a messenger trail. It was a deep purple inside, with a bright yellow rim.

“You did that before. How?” Kris said.

“They’re called messenger trails. Healers and messengers need to get around fast. There’s a maze of messenger trails throughout Kalendra. I opened this with a crystal, but intention alone will do if it’s urgent. The trails are simple shortcuts. It makes sense that the healing sanctuary would be two steps from the most healing waterfall in the land. Through this magic shortcut, we can step directly there. Getting into the mist is important.”

Kris nodded.

Sylvia opened the trail again, took Kris’s hand and in just two steps, they were at the waterfall.

Kris felt the waterfall mist coming from all directions. They stood on a platform suspended near the center of the waterfall, where its mist gently washed over them. Kris took his hat off and put his hands out to take in all the mist and spray from the falls.

“I feel like a brand-new person,” he said. “No pain anywhere. This is delightful, the best spa treatment I could have asked for.” He smiled broadly at Sylvia. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” she said. “Glad I could help.”

Kris looked up the cliff to admire the trees and mosses that grew directly out of the cliff wall. He saw birds playing in the sky. Dense forest surrounded the waterfall. “Do you know I love the forest most of all? So many tiny creatures.”

“Would you like to see more?” Sylvia offered.

“Yes,” Kris said.

“I’ll take you to my favorite twin lakes,” Sylvia said.

“Lead on.”

Sylvia opened another messenger trail. This time the center was a bright teal, with a purple ring around the outside. The two easily walked through on firm footing. They arrived at the top of a hill with a large lake on each side.

Kris turned to admire the lakes and saw that the long and narrow lake led to foothills with cliffs above. The other lake was in a field of colorful flowers. Pinks, whites, and purples blanketed the ground. A few tall evergreens provided shade in the clearing.

“What looks best to you?” Sylvia said.

“Oh, everything. I don’t know, what do you think?”

“I think you should decide. It's an important skill here.”

“Alright. Okay. How about a swim right here, and a hike up to that ridge?” Kris said, pointing. Then he saw a tall blue heron walk up to Sylvia.

“Greetings, Sylvia,” the heron said.

“How are you, Flanders?”

“I’ve been solving a mystery, if you’d like to know,” Flanders said, puffing out his chest.

“Of course. May I introduce you to my friend Kris?”

“Pleased to meet you,” Kris said, tipping his hat.

“The pleasure is mine sir,” Flanders said.

“What is this mystery you speak of?”

“The Maiden of the Forest, if you must know, has entrusted me with a special assignment. There was a breach yesterday in this very valley. She told me the Waterlands’ magical storehouse was broken into. Someone tried to take the ancient stones and crystals. I’m to find the missing crystals. I have her trust, you see,” Flanders said to Kris.

“She fought them off by conjuring the magic of the Crystalline Forest. I assure you from personal experience, that magic confuses the mind and makes people see optical illusions. Believe me, it protects that land. She conjured that magic here, and the thieves couldn’t find their way out. Once they were worn down trying, she gave them the option of returning the crystals and tablets or remaining lost and confused until further notice.

“Apparently,” Flanders continued, “Joe cracked first. It took longer to convince Charles to put things back. He insisted that it made no difference to Kalendra if he took them.

“Betrayals of the sacred sites were unheard of for ten thousand years, the Maiden said, and she wasn’t about to let them ransack the place,” Flanders finished with finality.

“The Maiden of the Forest is strong, I’d say,” Kris said. “It’s so healthy here. I feel like a new man. Please give her my best regards. Do you need help finding the crystals?”

“Not right now, thank you so much,” Flanders bowed. “I’ll track down witnesses. The elves will know if I can find them.” He bowed deeply, spreading one wing, then walked off.

Kris looked down at a patch of clover near his feet and immediately saw one with four leaves. He leaned down and picked it, then stood up and gently presented it to Sylvia. “Four-leaf clovers are rare and considered good luck where I’m from. May I offer you this one as a sign of my appreciation?” He smiled.

“Of course. Thank you,” Sylvia said. “I will cherish this.”

Chapter 8

Sparks flew over the horizon. A rainbow of colors lit the sky. Kelne heard a low rumbling in the distance and saw white flashes of light far into the distant hills. In the Ball Return, buildings burned. Glass structures slid off their foundations when they were plundered and leaned precariously.

How many are behind the storming of Kalendra’s ancient lands?

The Ball Return was the most ancient magical site in Kalendra and fundamentally impacted everyone’s quality of life. Thousands of years ago, the shamans’ greatest achievement by far was placing the small Shaman Moon in the sky with a single intention: to grow