Free Origins of the Never: A prequel to The Tales of the Neverwar series, with dragons, elves, and faeries. For Young Adults and Teens by CJ Rutherford, Colin Rutherford

 

    Teralia—Millennia Ago
     
    Laughter echoed through the air, as the two young elves climbed higher up the Tree. It had taken them most of this long day of summer to get this high, but their progress slowed as the light gave way to dusk. Both boys, while exhausted, were within reach of the swaying tips of the highest branches.
    They had spent days sneaking along forbidden paths to reach the Faer Folk’s home. Countless spells guarded the Tree, and the clearing it grew in, but Olumé and Tenybris were more powerful than any other being in the Lands. Olumé was master at manipulating the subtleties of the magic flowing around them, but Tenybris possessed more ability to force these energies to follow his wishes. The boys were opposites in every possible way two beings of happiness and light could be. They loved each other as brothers did, and their powers complemented the others.
    As Olumé gained a hand hold on the branch above, it twisted, threatening to cast him downward to the forest floor. There was a moment of panic as Olumé dropped, but a wave of Tenybris's hand bent the boughs below into a cradle.
    “I’d watch where you put your hands, my friend.” Tenybris's laughed at his friend’s futile attempts to escape. He gained the highest branch. Victory was a few feet away.
    Olumé smiled, closing his eyes. He sent a thought outwards, sensing the eager acceptance return from hundreds of small minds.
    Tenybris screamed in alarm, grasping the trunk, as a flock of sparrows dived at him. They engulfed him in a cloud of feathers, distracting him just long enough for Olumé to escape the trap he had fashioned.
    Olumé sped upwards, giggling as his avian friends continued their assault on Tenybris. “And I wouldn’t allow myself to grow so confident, brother. Things have a way of righting other’s wrongs.” Sensing the glee in the bird's simple minds, he sent his thanks to them as they dispersed.
    Olumé clung to one side of the limb, smiling at his friend. Tenybris returned his grin, looking up at the victor.
    “Maker! I almost had you,” Tenybris said, laughing. “I would have won if not for those damned birds! I will never understand how you get them to obey you like that.”
    Olumé lips formed a crooked grin. “Tenybris, you will never understand, because unlike you, I don’t get them to ‘obey’ me. They are my friends, the same as you are.” He chuckled. “I thought they might enjoy a game. I was correct.”
    Tenybris shook feathers from his long dark hair and grinned. “Next time, can you ask them not to play so well? I think one of them left a worm in my ear.”
    Olumé laughed as Tenybris extracted a small wriggling form. He held it up, long enough for one of the flock to return for the morsel and pluck it from his fingers.
    Discord from below interrupted their celebration. The denizens of the Tree saw through the spell the two friends used to cloak themselves. The leaves rustled and hundreds of the Faer flew upwards in pursuit of the interlopers.
    Tenybris turned to his friend, smiling. “Maybe it's time we were somewhere else?” He watched the glowing forms speed closer by the second.
    “Perhaps we should stay and explain,” Olumé said, chuckling as the mirth faded from his friend's face. “No? Well I suppose we might find it hard to explain our game, with several hundred of the Faer Folk trying to kill us. Retreat might be the most sensible way to avoid any unpleasantness.”
    Both boys laughed, and joined hands as they jumped outwards away from the trunk, disappearing in a flash of light.
     

     
    The corridors resounded with merriment as the two boys ran laughing through the castle. They rounded a corner, bowling over a young elf carrying a stack of scrolls. The two boys halted abruptly, concern and embarrassment obvious on their faces.
    Olumé bowed. “I’m sorry Hallor. We have just returned after a most urgent, ah...errand.” He glanced sideways at Tenybris, who was red faced and