Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing
Chapter Seven: Parting of the Ways

’I can’t put you in danger any more. I have to learn how to control myself, if I can… When I can I’ll come home. I’m not leaving because I want to… I have no choice…’

-Aragam, a letter he left at home for his family, before seeking out Grulem

A day passed away, and there were no signs of Mugwamps, or armies, or evil beasts… But there was no sign of Emily either. No one knew if she was dead, or if she was alive. Every hadroh that passed, John watched Aragam grow more and more concerned. The castle of Weral was alive again, and the people, who’d been trapped away for so long, were learning what had transpired in their absence. Thaddeus was busy helping them, and guiding them, in preparation for the unseen darkness that he promised was coming.

Despite all this, and knowing he should be more concerned, John couldn’t help worrying about Aragam, and wondering what he might do. Almost constantly the Blue Wasgician would go to Thaddeus and the others and try to get some help, any help in putting together a band of warriors to go out and search for Emily.

Nothing came of it.

It was evening when John and Samantha, followed by Wuzzul and Whirligig, hurried toward the throne room, where Thaddeus had summoned them. In their rush, they bumped into Aragam. The Wasgician, in his blue robes, with his pointed hat on his head, had a travelling bag on his back, and Togik the Stryth, was beside him.

’Aragam,’ John said suddenly.

‘What are you doing?’ Samantha asked, stepping toward the Wasgician, nodding to his travelling bag.

Aragam glanced at it. Then he looked back at Samantha, his face serious. ‘I can’t get anyone to go in search of Emily, so I’m going myself.’

’And I suppose I’m chopped liver,’ Togik grumbled.

‘Quiet, Horse,’ Aragam grumbled, ’I already told you I appreciate you joining me, but you don’t need to come.’

Togik snorted, ‘Right, and you’ll just get yourself killed and I’ll have a guilty conciseness for the rest of my life – do you have any idea how long a Stryth lives!’

Aragam closed his eyes and sighed.

Togik chuckled.

‘You can’t just go off,’ Samantha said to Aragam, worry in her voice. ’You don’t even know where to start looking... and what about the preparations here?’

Aragam gently reached out and touched Samantha’s face. John felt his ears burn a little, but tried not to focus on the ugly feeling churning in his stomach.

’I have to do this,’ Aragam told Samantha seriously. ‘Emily showed me who…’ he let it go. ’I won’t abandon her, not ever.’

’Thaddeus says it’s only going to get more and more dangerous out there… The evil that is moving against us will not let this stand. They will-’

‘I know that I walk into the unknown and into danger,’ Aragam assured, ‘I am prepared for that.’

Tears started down Samantha’s cheeks. ’But you could die,’ she whispered. ’You saved my life, Aragam… you have no idea what that means to me, what you mean to me.’

Aragam smiled and wiped Samantha’s tears away. ‘You’re important to me too,’ he said, ’but you’re safe here. Emily is… I won’t abandon her.’

’Shall we abandon you?’ Samantha whispered.

‘You two,’ Aragam said, seriously, ’have great things ahead of you… I… am just an incompetent Wasgician.’ He chuckled mirthlessly, looked down, and then turned his face back to Samantha, tears running from his own eyes. ‘Stay here,’ he told her, ’and save the world.’

Samantha threw here arms around Aragam, hugging him as tightly as she could. He hugged her too, but finally had to push her away. He stood up, patted Togik on his black neck, and walked off down the hallway, with the Stryth clopping behind him.

Samantha watched Aragam go, tears burning down her cheeks. When Aragam rounded a corner and disappeared from sight, Samantha buried her face in John’s shoulder and sobbed.

*

Thaddeus looked up from discussion with Siri and Grijyn as Fernid Skyrender – the Human – and Evrase – the Tyrim – walked through the entrance way. Both men looked concerned.

‘Yes, yes, what is it?’ Thaddeus asked, stepping away from the Weral thrones.

‘The King and Queen were killed before everyone was trapped in the orb,’ Evrase said. ‘We’ve finished all of our interviews, and Weral witnesses have confirmed the ugly truth.’

Thaddeus sighed. ‘Terrible business,’ he said sadly.

‘I never saw them fall,’ Grijyn whispered sadly. ‘I should have…’ he let it trail off. Thaddeus knew the Griffin was weighed down with guilt right now, but he also knew he would remain resolute in what was to come.

’That means this Emily girl is the new Queen… Wherever she is,’ Fernid grumbled.

‘So it would seem,’ Thaddeus responded.

’But no one knows where she is,’ Siri said, pulling at her bottom lip, making a slapping sound.

‘She’ll need to be found,’ Grijyn said grimly, looking at Thaddeus.

‘What else?’ Thaddeus asked, ignoring the Griffin, turning back to the men.

Evrase sighed. ‘I contacted my people,’ he said, ‘Grulem has disappeared with no trace, and he told no one where he was going.’

Thaddeus shifted his jaw. ‘His playing at something,’ the man reasoned, thoughtfully.

’He’s the one who’s been preparing us all for what is coming,’ Evrase growled. ‘Without him what are we supposed to do?’

‘Much the same as what we’re doing now,’ Siri pointed out. ‘We prepare.’

Thaddeus nodded. ’I agree, I agree… but… Grulem must be found.’ He looked at Evrase and Fernid. ‘Are you up to the task of tracking him?’

‘Where would we begin?’ Fernid grumbled.

‘My people know of some of his hiding places,’ Evrase offered, his pointed, blue, ears twitching. ‘We will go to the Kingdom of the Tyrim first.’

‘A good plan, of this I am sure,’ Siri said.

‘And we need more information on the Dark Master, Servantt, who is behind all of the evil moving in the worlds today,’ Thaddeus said, turning his eyes to Siri. ‘You can seek out this Dark Lord, yes?’

‘Places I can go that beings like you can’t,’ Siri agreed. ‘Yes, I’ll learn what I can, as quick as I can.’

‘What about us?’ a young voice said, echoing across the throne room.

Thaddeus looked up and saw John and Samantha approaching, their Dooys trailing behind them. ‘Ah, yes, you’ve arrived, good, good.’ Samantha looked crushed, and Thaddeus noticed it. ‘Dear child, Samantha, what is it?’ he asked.

The girl sniffed. ‘Aragam and Togik are gone… Aragam is determined to replace Emily.’

’Him is gone, him is gone. Funny Wasgician man is gone,’ Wuzzul said sadly, wiping tears from his eyes, Whirligig patting his friend, comfortingly, on the shoulder.

‘Ahh,’ Thaddeus said, ‘good, good, as I thought he would be. Togik assured me he’d keep an eye on the Wasgician.’ He sent a look the Griffin’s way, and the creature nodded.

Samantha looked shocked and she narrowed her eyes. ’You planned this?’ she asked.

‘I planned nothing,’ Thaddeus responded, ’it was simply inevitable, and it will work to our advantage.’

Samantha looked disgusted, but Thaddeus knew she would get over it.

‘So,’ John finally said, looking at Thaddeus again. ’What about us?’

’Yes, well, that’s easy,’ the old man smiled, ‘you are Elements of Glory, thus you must be fully trained as such… and your training will begin tomorrow.’

John blinked. ‘Seriously?’ he asked.

‘Well of course,’ Thaddeus responded, ‘how else do you expect us to fight the coming evil and replace your surviving Element kin.’

‘You said they were all dead,’ John commented, frowning.

’Perhaps not all,’ Thaddeus replied, his eyes becoming distant and thoughtful.

‘Yes, yes,’ Siri agreed. ‘We have much work ahead of us all, of this I know for sure.’

‘Thaddeus, you can’t just stand there looking thoughtful,’ Samantha grumbled, ‘you said all of the Elements were killed?’

‘After what John told me about Billy… I have my doubts,’ Thaddeus smiled.

’You mean he might be alive?’ John asked, hope in his voice.

‘Indeed, and possibly others,’ Thaddeus added.

John’s face took on a look of confusion.

‘What?’ Thaddeus asked.

John glanced at Samantha. Then he turned back to Thaddeus. ’Well… I mean… if Samantha remembers being an Element, and remembers this life… well… why does she need to train?’ He turned to his friend. ’Shouldn’t you be teaching?’

‘I may have over-estimated all that I remembered,’ Samantha winced. ‘This rebirth thing isn’t a perfect science.’

‘So what, you were just leading me on, trying to make me feel bad?’ John asked, a little angry.

Samantha shrugged. ’Mostly I was confused, I didn’t know what I knew… even now things are… strange.’

John found himself smirking.

‘What?’ Samantha asked.

John shrugged. ‘Dunno,’ he responded, ’just… you seem a little more like you… kind of like having the old Samantha back.’

‘Hmm,’ Samantha replied, and she smiled.

Thaddeus clapped his hands together and beamed. ‘Ah, good,’ he said, laughing happily, ’this is wonderful!’

Samantha, beaming, bumped John in the shoulder. ‘By the way,’ she informed mischievously, ’I do remember the fort.’

John couldn’t help grinning.