The Revenge of the Elves by Gary Alan Wassner

added, and they all looked at him, Robyn most curiously of all.
    “How did you know that, Dav? I didn’t tell anyone,” Robyn asked. As usual, his voice was emotionless.
    “She came to me too, in a manner of speaking, that is,” he answered. “At first, I thought it was just another dream or maybe someone from my past, and that my memory was starting to come back to me. For a moment I imagined she was Mira,” he said, glancing at Cairn. “But, she spoke of my brother and of Avalain and the shield surrounding that city too. She told me not to try to contact him, to be careful and to remember the prophesies.”
    “Why didn’t you tell us about this, Dav?” Filaree asked. “It might have been helpful.” It unnerved her that he kept such important information to himself. In battle, every fact was important and battle was approaching. She knew it. She felt it.
    “It only happened last evening. I did intend to tell you all when we were together.”
    “I too waited until now to say anything, though I saw both Filaree and Cairn already this morning,” Robyn explained. “Sidra’s influence is strong and she has her own reasons for doing what she does. But I’ve found no cause to mistrust her.”
    “Maybe. But you still don’t know why she’s doing what she’s doing. She seems far too able to move freely within your minds, this Sidra woman,” Filaree cautioned. And to manipulate you if she wants. You don’t even know why you withheld this information. “Why doesn’t she just come forward and talk to us in a normal manner?”
    “She’s not a normal woman,” Robyn replied. “The Chosen communicate in many different ways that don’t always entail face to face conversations. That’s never bothered you, Filaree. Why then does Sidra’s behavior cause you concern?”
    “Frankly, I don’t know, “ she confessed. But it does. And it should bother you too. “I’m not comfortable with the idea that your thoughts are being influenced. Should I be? Should you be? I can’t accept something that has no practical explanation. I know very little about her and that alone is reason for caution at the least. I respect her independence, but respect and trust are two different things. She’s too willing to manipulate from a distance without joining our forces. If we’re on the same side, then why not come forward? What does she fear from us?” What does she want from us? she wondered. She looked at Davmiran. He seemed calm, his eyes wide like a child’s. He’s not ready, she repeated to herself again.
    “I wish I knew,” Robyn replied. “She’s acting no differently now than ever before, though she’s more involved with the world’s affairs than in the past. When the time’s right she’ll be direct. You two would get along well, Filaree despite your reservations. You are similar in many ways.”
    “Similar? Is that a compliment, Robyn?” she asked. “I don’t play games. If I have something to say, I say it.” And you are far too taken with this woman.
    “It’s a compliment nonetheless,” he replied. His admiration for both women was strong, though he found it easier to express his feelings for Sidra.
    “I’ll reserve my judgment for another time. I’d like to ask her a few questions face to face first,” Filaree said. More than a few. And she’s brought Avalain into the mix as well. And my mother.
    “So Tomas is safe behind her shield too?” Cairn asked.
    “And Avalain as well for the time being. Whether or not the shield causes Colton’s eyes to pass over a place without seeing what lies within it, I cannot determine. Though his power reached out to Parth when we first arrived, it didn’t pursue us once we entered. It was as if we vanished,” Robyn recalled.
    “Parth is a special place, Robyn,” Cairn reminded him. “The confluence of power here beneath the ground offers protection of its own. It’s not merely the shield that is sheltering us.”
    “Together these forces may have