The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2 novel Chapter 171

Part 24

“We’re like the very first elves, who were the most recent race to develop before us. We’re strange compared to those around us now, but when there’s a few thousand of us nobody will think twice about it.

“On the other hand, all the humanoid races can interbreed now. Over the long term, that’s sure to produce some averaging among the races, but it’s also sure to produce completely new kinds of people. And if the warlock characteristics are passed on without being diminished by being diluted by other bloodlines, as we think will be the case, then eventually every humanoid born will also be a warlock, regardless of any other racial characteristics they may have.”

They moved on to Mark’s speech at a military training center in Beijur, Kletiuk, which was attended by Overlord Senchak and most of the elite of Kletiuk’s dwarven society, as well as a vast throng of staff and trainees from the base.

His speech was similar to the one he gave in Debivin, yet different enough to show that he was speaking from the heart, without rehearsal or preparation.

As he was half finished, his children got bored of the proceedings and elected to go home to Hilia. Talia suggested that they go instead with her to the Living Palace in First Valley, and they agreed. Alilia elected to continue with Mark on his tour.

“Welcome to the place where my heart is most at home.” Talia said with a smile as she, her children, and Karz emerged in the living room of the palace’s master suite. “Though we only lived here a few days, the love I share with Mark truly blossomed and became part of us while we were here. And I’ve known since I could talk that I would have a home on this land when I was grown, though I could never have predicted this place! That’s my parents' tree there, where I grew up.” she told them as she pointed out a mighty oak that was visible through the windowed double doors to the balcony.

“I love the aura of it.” Val said as she took a deep breath. “And the wizard’s magic here feels really good too. The elven part of me can sure feel why we fought so hard to hold this land.”

“I do get a feeling that this is home, in a way.” Fire said as she opened the doors and went out on the balcony, and the rest joined her. They looked around at the beautiful gardens at the front of the palace, the redwood wall around it, the giant trees with elven homes visible above the wall, and the occasional view of the ring of mountain around the valley that was visible through the trees.

“Here.” Talia giggled, and passed them her memory of Alilia, Theramin, and her parents casting the mighty spell that had made the wonderful home around them.

“Wow. That’s really beautiful, both the making and what they made.” Six quietly stated.

“Such an elven thing to do, to grow a home out of a tree.” Karz commented. “Yet so beautifully strange that the shape and the design is obviously so typically human.”

“That’s the beauty and the magic of it, to be sure.” Talia agreed.

They just stood there for a view minutes, enjoying the view and absorbing the ambience of the place.

Then Val said suddenly said; “I’m getting really tired of working on the education spell. It’s going well, but I’m bored of it, and if gets finished sooner then we can get the wizards that’ve been teaching into the preparations for the next exercise sooner.

“Will you all help me with it? We should be able to have it done by tonight if we all work on it. At least the core part anyway. Then it has to go to the translators, then back to me for final collation and distribution.”

“Sure, sister.” Fire told her with a grin as she gave her a one armed hug. “You’ve been working pretty hard on it, and besides, me and Six can probably add a few things to your psionics lessons.”

The five of them brought chairs out onto the balcony and sat down to work, still enjoying the view as the sun set.

Mark and Alilia appeared in the living room just over an hour and a half later.

Talia literally jumped up into Mark’s arms as he and Alilia joined them on the balcony.

“How are you doing, my love?” Mark softly asked as he gently cuddled her, and she hugged him around his neck with desperate affection.