Book of Ellagar

Chapter 21 : Sacrifice

Ellagar reached out with her mind to find Sageclaw—there was no response. "We are on our own, but the storm is fierce. Take my hand, Thelara. I will use the storm's powers to speed our journey. Maybe we can get there before Verak."

Thelara nodded, her hand reaching for Ellagar's with a trust that had been forged in the heart of shared battles and hard-earned victories. As their palms met, Ellagar enjoyed the warmth following from Thelara, then Ellagar closed her eyes and called upon the swamp's primal energy. The world around them blurred into a kaleidoscope of greens and shadows as she tapped into the ancient magic that pulsed through her veins.

The two druids moved swiftly through the murky waters and over the treacherous terrain. The swamp seemed to bend to their will, the vegetation parting to reveal the path the kidnappers had taken. The night air was alive with whispers of their passing, the creatures of the swamp watching in silent awe as they raced to save their kin. Thunder rumbled overhead, and flashes of lightning illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows through the twisted trees. They shimmered, stepping magically from storm light and water into another point of storm light and water, their movements so swift that they left only ripples of disturbed air in their wake.

Ellagar stopped abruptly, her keen eyes searching the landscape ahead. The barrow, a mound of ancient earth and decaying vegetation, loomed like a silent sentinel. Yet there was no sign of Verak, no flicker of his shadowy form against the storm-lit backdrop. The vines and trees around them remained still, as if holding their breath, waiting for the next beat in this dramatic dance of fate. Ellagar dropped to one knee, breathing hard. "I need a moment to rebuild my energy. We are ahead of Verak."

Thelara, equally winded, nodded in understanding. Her once-golden scales were now a mottled mess of earth tones, a stark contrast to the vibrant metallic hues of her healthier days. "We must be careful," she warned, her eyes scanning the area. "The power here is...unsettling."

Ellagar felt the truth in her friend's words. The air was thick with the scent of decay and ancient magic, a heady mix that made her feel both invigorated and slightly queasy. "Tell me, Thelara," she said, her eyes searching Thelara's face. "What is it that blocks your connection to the natural world?"

Thelara scanned the barrow. "There is movement. The Wyrm Lords are there. I see sentries, and..."

Ellagar cut her off. "Battle tactics can wait, my friend. My love. We need to talk while we have this moment. I need to know, before we risk it all, what you risk."

Thelara glanced at Ellagar and away. "I still outrank you, Watcher!" Thelara frowned, her words sharp, and reached to grasp Ellagar's Concordance bracelet of rank. Power surged. "Field promotion, for service above and beyond. You are now Concordance Warden of the Second Rank."

Ellagar stared at Thelara, an eyebrow raised. "Thank you, my Verdant. Now stop deflecting. Answer my question."

Thelara took a deep, shuddering breath. "When an Other Realm aberration kills you," she began, her voice low and trembling, "it isn't just to your body. It feasts on life essence. The beast's touch is like a curse, a shadow that clings to the soul. It killed my body, but what Ardvek did... it brought me back, but not whole."

Ellagar's eyes softened with concern and love. "What do you mean, not whole?"

Thelara took a moment, her gaze drifting to the murky waters of the swamp. "The thing," she began, her voice tight, "it didn't just kill me. It claimed a piece of me. When Ardvek directed the power of the Mother Tree to bring me back, it was as if he'd stitched my parts together with threads of life energy, but the original tapestry of me wasn't just torn. It was unraveled. Is unraveling. One silver thread at a time. It is taking all my Druidic powers to contain it. Slow it. If I redirect my abilities, it will end me."