The month passed slowly, true to her word Jhenna did not reappear and it was discovered that she had emptied her room at the school, Thalon spent the time training and preparing for the long journey.
As the day of the full moon grew dark, Thalon heard Fraka screech from her watch post.
“Be quiet, you cursed creature, or I’ll pluck your feathers for hair ornaments.”
As soon as he heard the female voice Thalon knew that Jhenna had arrived, he picked up his pack and climbed down to ground level.
“Fraka, she’s a friend. Shall we go?”
Jhenna was waiting, hooded and cloaked in black.
“Are you prepared to leave?”
“Yes.”
“Good. The border is not far from here but the path is long and we must reach its end before the moon rises.”
“Let’s go then.”
“Follow me, but don’t fall more than five steps behind, and tell your pet bird to fly straight to the border but not to pass it until we arrive.”
Jhenna paused for a breath, and then continued her instructions.
“Once we have crossed into the land; don’t touch anything, say anything, and above all do not try to use magic. If you have any questions ask them while we are walking.”
“I understand, let’s go,” repeated Thalon.
“You sound impatient, Thalon. May I still address you in that way?” said Jhenna.
She started walking south away from the border.
“Or has that offer been rescinded now that you know I’m your half-sister, and equal in rank?”
“Call me whatever you feel like,” Thalon replied, sounding annoyed, he added, “Why are we walking south?”
“I told you it is a long path. The spell that will allow one of the Forest Blood to pass the border is necessarily complex. Don’t worry, though, we have enough time.”
“I see.”
“Do you?” replied Jhenna. “I sometimes wonder that any Forest Elf can see past the end of his nose, in terms of magic.”
“I can, unlike the rest of my people,” replied Thalon calmly.
Jhenna looked sceptical but chose not to comment; instead she decided to reiterate her warnings.
“I warn you being a half blood will allow you to pass the border, but it will not protect you if you do not do as you are told.”
“I do understand that, Jhenna.”
“Good.”
A moment later, or so it seemed to Thalon, Jhenna smiled widely and pointed straight ahead.
“The moon has begun her rising and we stand before the border.”
Thalon looked in the direction she indicated, with no memory of the journey or the magic used by Jhenna, he was indeed standing before the border of the two lands.
“Are you ready to face your Destiny, Master of Fire?”
Jhenna was, for once, formal in speaking to Thalon.
“I am your Guide in the beginning of your Journey.”
“I am ready.”
“Stand here. Remember; Do not speak, or touch, or spell cast, and you must carry the bird.”
“Fraka? I have not seen her yet.”
“She’s in the trees next to you, call her now.”
“Fraka, come to me, old friend.”
The bird flew softly from the tree to land in Thalon’s arms. Jhenna stepped out of the tree line. The Wild Woods, in front of the pair, were an impenetrable wall of tree trunks and undergrowth.
Nothing happened for a moment, and then long tangled vines snaked across the ground. They quickly surrounded the Elves and their feathered companion. Confidently Jhenna stepped forward, gesturing for Thalon to follow her, a path opened up before them and closed behind. The woods were darker and more menacing than those they’d just left, despite the full moon.
After an indeterminate amount of time Jhenna, who was having no trouble finding her way, stopped and informed Thalon that they had arrived.
“You can speak now, if you wish to, but keep the bird near you. The other things I told you still apply, especially the no magic using one.”
“I think we should just continue,” said Thalon disagreeably. He was still annoyed by her not warning him what to expect.
“We’ll stay here until dawn. I told my father all about you, and he wants to meet you.”
“Jhenna! Do stop teasing our guest.”
The light of a lamp entered the, now revealed, clearing. A woman with bright green eyes, who looked enough like Jhenna to be her sister, carried it and she smiled at Thalon.
“I am Salia, Daughter of Cleolin and Mother of Kandarsen, Athelia, Denkarsen and Jhenna. I greet you, Thalonsen, Son of Thoransen.”
“Greetings, Mother.”
“Greetings, Daughter.”
“It feels strange to be meeting you,“ said Thalon, “but I am happy to do so.”
Fraka screeched, though Thalon’s arms muffled it, Thalon lifted her onto his shoulder.
“This is Fraka.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Your arrival was prophesied before you were born,” interjected a male voice.
“Greetings, Son of my Blood,” continued the speaker, “I am Thoransen. Your Mother’s people would call me ‘Prince’, or ‘King’, of this Land.”
Thoransen stepped into the light and Thalon looked at him with unashamed curiosity. He was Thalon’s height, with the same dark blue eyes, but his hair was the same red brown as Jhenna’s.
“Lhea Salia does me the honor of being my Consort. I hope our Daughter has not tormented you too badly.”
“No she has not.”
“Father!” protested Jhenna. “Would I do that?”
“Yes,” replied her parents.
Jhenna laughed and protested again.
“I didn’t have time to torment him.”
“You don’t really need much time to torment people,” noted Salia.
Turning to Thalon, she smiled again, with a quick pointed look at Jhenna.
“May we offer you some refreshment, Prince Thalon?”
“I’ll just go and get my things ready. Prince Thalon might want to get some rest though.”
“No, thank you, I am fine. I have a suggestion I would like to put to my Father. Will you hear it?”
“You want to talk business?”
Thoransen’s voice was amused but slightly suspicious.
“You may call me Thoran. I will hear what you have to say.”
“It has to do with peace, for all the Elven people, Thoran.”
“You appear to be speaking under a misapprehension, Prince Thalon, My Consort will not correct but I will.”
Salia’s voice was cold and firm, it was obvious that she was as much a leader as Thoran.
“Salia.”
The single word was clearly a protest on Thoran’s part.
“The Lhea is speaking.”
Thalon still wasn’t sure what a ‘Lhea’ was but it seemed that Salia was making a formal declaration.
“Speak, Lhea, we listen.”
The three were alone in the clearing, and yet, there was a sense of anticipation in the air.
“We of the Wild Wood do not care about ‘peace for all the Elven people’, as you put it, the aid we give is a temporary truce. We obey what the God has foretold but that is all. When this is done we will close our borders to outsiders. Speak you ideas, if you still wish too, but do not expect them to be welcome.”
With those words Salia, leaving the lamp hanging in the air, vanished into the shadows.
“The Lhea has spoken. You may say what you will.”
“I was thinking my words would help, but it does not matter, you’re all too much like my Mother’s family.”
“I dislike your insolent tone. Remember that you stand upon this land because the Divine Ones wish it so. If you will not explain yourself then refrain from speaking until you depart.”
“I did not intend to show you disrespect. I only thought that you would understand.”
“Call me ignorant,” replied Thoran, his tone of voice suggesting that bad things would happen if that offer were accepted, “but I have no idea what you mean.”
“I do not think you are ignorant. I was hoping that we could make a truce that will last longer than the Quest.”