by C S Vass
Godwin held his silence. He was trying to conserve energy, but there seemed to be no point. He knew within the first few movements of the fight that it was hopeless. This was not a winnable battle. To kill a higher level vampire, there should have been at least three Shigata working together. He had hoped to use the element of surprise to make up for that, but his cover had been blown long before the fight had even started.
“Why?” Grushenka asked, stepping forward. “You’re not a barbarian, Godwin. You don’t do this just because you enjoy killing. You take your contracts on good faith. You assume Yegvellen was being truthful with you. I suggest you start thinking more carefully before accepting gold from these warmongering mages.”
“What are you saying?” Godwin coughed. “Yegvellen is a liar? You’re going to have a hard time convincing me that you’re not a vampire.”
“I am as the gods made me, just as we all are. But you’ve gotten just about every other detail wrong, I suspect. What did he tell you? That I’m terrorizing the city? Leaving young whores dead in the streets drained of blood and framing the noble bankers who come here for my crimes? Well! Answer me!”
Godwin saw no choice but to oblige. “He said the Three Sisters are your feeding ground. That sometimes you kill the clients, and sometimes you humiliate them. I believe the term ‘diddling goats’ was thrown around.”
“Amusing,” Grushenka said. “But far from the truth. I’m here for one reason. To make money. Why would I kill or humiliate my clientele? I’m something of an excitement for the guests. Sometimes I scare them, but I’ve never killed anyone. And as for the goat diddling…well let’s just say I haven’t decided how much I would charge a man before I started casting those charms.”
Godwin’s head was spinning. Could it be true? In his rush to get to Saebyl’s lord, had he taken a contract without making sure the details added up?
“You did,” Grushenka sneered. “And yes, I am reading your mind now. You lost your right to privacy around the time you took an assignment that you could have validated by asking any one of my girls. You’re a Shigata. They would have been honest with you.”
Godwin groaned. The pain in his side was returning. He dropped his sword and slid to the floor.
“There’s a good boy,” Grushenka said.
“So the guard at Saebyl’s castle gates?”
“Probably a servant of Yegvellen’s. In fact I have it on good authority that Lord Rockhelm has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of a Shigata ever since his spies have told him about the unfortunate incident on Black Wolf. Should the Odruri have shown up at his gate, he would have bent over backwards to have a meeting with you.”
“What have I done?” Godwin asked.
“You’ve made a mess, that’s for sure. You nearly got yourself killed, along with your friend here. At the very least, you’ve given him reason to have a roaring headache in the morning.”
“Did he even lie about your name? Are you Namaeria or Grushenka?”
“In here I’m Grushenka. You better stick with that name. That is if I decide to let you live long enough to say it.”
“Listen,” Godwin wheezed. “Kill me if you have to. But I need to speak to the Lord of Saebyl first. There’s—”
“Hold your tongue. I’m three-thousand years old, and I’ve been inside of your head for the better part of the night. I know why you need to speak to Denver Rockhelm. We’ll get to that soon enough. For now, well, I’d say you have more than a small debt to pay to me.”
“You want me to help you take out Yegvellen, is that it?”
“Of course. He’s no match for me in open combat, but he’s a crafty bastard who specializes in deceptive magic. He’s been hunting me for quite a time, and I haven’t been able to nail him down. You could be just the useful idiot I need to corner this snake.”
“Why is he hunting you if you’re not harming anyone?”
Grushenka laughed, though this time it sounded sharp and terrible. “Why? Why don’t you ask why Sylvester Shade is arming citizens to the teeth to gear up another round of pogroms in Valencia? Why don’t you ask why nooses are being crafted all through the Southlands for any ogres or dwarves that wander down from Jagjaw? I’m the other, Godwin. That’s reason enough.”
Godwin’s side ached with terrible pain. Groaning he said, “I’m sorry for the disturbance that I have caused you. Truly, I am. I’m in your debt. How can I help you?”
Grushenka smiled. “Oh I think I have just the way. We can think of it as some poetic justice after what you’ve put your good friend here through. But you’re no good to me half-dead. First let’s see to those injuries.”
Chapter 15
Tongues of flame illuminated the scattered faces of elves that had gathered in the valley. An ancient meeting spot, The Othelli Pass served as a place where the elves of the Jagjaw Mountains would come together to discuss threats from their neighbors and plans for their futures.
Faela looked with wonder at the fluorescent, glowing dome that encapsulated the entire valley and kept the pouring rain from soaking them to the bone. She was seated next to a spear of an elf with sharp green eyes and a wreath of leaves and pearls around his head named Eljen, a renowned warrior who had earned the respect of his clan by slaughtering a massive demonic spider that threatened them. On Faela’s other side, Yaura sat stony-faced. The Shigata had not been happy to be relived of her sword upon meeting their elven hosts. Particularly since Faela had not been subjected to that particular demand.
“Lighten up,” Faela whispered into Yaura’s ear. “It could be worse. They could have seated you with Tzuri-kai.”
The dwarf, who the elves had at once declared to be a ‘foul-mouthed and detestable menace,’ was tied to a stake just outside of the comfort of the protective sphere where it was hoped the cleansing rain would wash the filth from his tongue. Faela couldn’t hear him, but judging from the way his mouth was frothing, the elves’ plan had not succeeded.
“Welcome my brothers and sisters,” a very old elf named Hanaleya shouted as she raised her hands. “We have come here to honor the full moon and to discuss our hopes for our people.”
The host of elves around them cheered. It had taken over a week of crawling through the Jagjaw Mountains with bloody fingers and aching backs before they found any sign of civilized life. The elves had greeted them suspiciously but not unkindly, that is until Tzuri-kai began to speak. Faela and Yaura quickly agreed that a little diplomatically strategic distance from the dwarf was quite acceptable given the circumstances.
Hanaleya continued her opening speech. “The situation continues to grow more dire. Dark things creep through the mountains. The idiot-king cares not for our troubles. Those who have fled to the cities of the West have been met with sword and fire. And those who should share our concerns have turned their shoulders and spat at our feet. It is for that reason that I counsel that we keep to our own. Nobody will save the elves but the elves. What say you, Eljen?”
The warrior-elf next to Faela rose. His misty-green eyes seemed to see something other than the mountain pass, and he took a great deal of time before he spoke with a magically amplified voice, just as Hanaleya did. “The longer we walk above the earth and under the sun, the longer we expose our naked bellies to the swords of our foes. We can fight to stay, but why? For who? The time of great sleep approaches. Elves have done so before. Prepare yourself, brothers and sisters. Prepare to close your eyes and rest as the years fall past us like a rushing waterfall. We will emerge from this hibernation stronger and in a better world.”
A number of elves cheered in support of the sentiment. Faela found herself surprised that the warrior was urging retreat. Yaura shot her the quickest of glances, but did not deign to speak. Faela understood. There might be a time to let them know of Kark’s desire to help, but it was not now. They were lucky enough as it was to be considered trustworthy enough to listen to the meeting after arriving in the company of Tzuri-kai.
“You preach cowar
dice!” a thick-necked elf from across the platform shouted as he rose. “Let the others close their eyes and sleep! Why should we be forced to make way for them? We have the true magic. The Old Magic. We should not be content just to survive. We must thrive! Why should we hole up in these mountains? Let the humans face the wrath they have invited upon themselves, and let us be a part of that wrath!”
A smaller but much more vocal section of the elves erupted into applause at hearing these words. Faela shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She knew that tensions were running high, but she never imagined that in the depths of the Jagjaw Mountains, the elves were openly discussing rebellion.
Eljen was quick to respond. “Human arrogance is as everlasting as the mountain. Would you be the lightning, powerful and beautiful as it is, that blasts the mountain? What will you accomplish but to burn our lives out in a flash of heat and light?”
“If that is our fate, so be it!” the other elf exclaimed.
“What would you have us do?” Hanaleya asked earnestly. “Leave our home and multiply like locusts across the face of Gaellos? Conquer the West? Bring utopia to them with the sword and whip?”
“I would have us find our brothers and sisters,” the war-minded elf shot back at once. “I would seek out the hall of this Sylvester Shade, this Demon of the South as he styles himself. I would show him what a true demon can do. Then northward, to our long lost siblings in the Frost Forest. We will only be truly strong when we reunite.”
“No envoy sent to the Frost Forest has ever returned,” Eljen interjected. “I see no reason to pursue a course littered with the bodies of our family. If our northern cousins want to speak with us, they know they can come here.”
“No,” replied the other elf angrily. “You would simply avoid the hard road and bury us while we are still alive. Well I say we should fight to live. Not in some great distant future, but here and now!”
A great outcry rose amongst the camp as elves near and far argued amongst each other. Faela listened, fascinated. She had no idea how Yaura was able to keep herself so composed as the discussion turned heated. Was the Shigata so accustomed to this talk of death and war? Taking advantage of the commotion to get a word in, Faela leaned towards Yaura and asked, “What should we do?”
Yaura turned, frowning. “Do? Nothing, of course. We’re only at this meeting because your ears are just pointy enough. It’s a miracle they aren’t taking our heads off for creeping around the mountains. If we can leave with all our limbs, then we should be grateful for that.”
“Yes,” Faela said, nervous. “But what about Kark?”
Yaura scoffed. “What about him? We made him a promise, and we will honor it. We’ll take the dwarf to Valencia and let him plead his case to the good elves, dwarves, and ogres there. It’s an idiotic venture, but we’ll do it nonetheless.”
Faela bit her lip. She didn’t like the look that Yaura was giving her one bit. “But what about you?”
“What about me? I have my own business in Valencia, and I’ll see it through. My priority is finding any Shigata roaming in this part of the world and sending them to Unduyo. The rest of these fine folk can care for themselves. Besides, wait until the Tarsurians start sending their forces in true numbers. Sylvester Shade will beg the elves he’s killing to jump into the fray on his side.”
Faela huffed. She supposed that life was simple when you dedicated yourself to the sword and to hell with everything else. But she was truly worried about the continent. About the capital. About her friends and family back in Tallium. About Paetrick.
“Listen,” Yaura said as she read Faela’s face. “You’re overthinking. One task at a time. Let’s finish out this meeting before we try to save the world.”
“Bu—”
“And don’t go bringing up what we saw in that cave, either. I promise you that if the elves want to know about it, they’ll ask. Otherwise it’s not our concern.”
Faela bit her lip. The woman was impossible. She wondered if all Shigata were like that, or if that was simply a special quality that Yaura had. She didn’t like the way that Yaura was looking at her one bit. Was the Shigata implying that she was a coward?
After a time the arguments and chattering among the elves died down. “We will take a break!” Hanaleya shouted to her people. “The meeting will resume shortly.” Turning to Faela she said, “I would be honored if you would join me on a brief walk.”
“Oh, of course,” Faela said, jumping to her feet too quickly and startling some of the other elves near them.
Hanaleya waved them down. “Excellent. With me.”
They walked on and Faela shot Yaura a look, but the Shigata was staring into the central bonfire completely unconcerned with what was happening.
Hanaleya was silent as she led Faela through the mountain pass. Faela wanted to say something, but felt as though it would be inappropriate if she broke the silence. Somehow she was both nervous and secure at the same time. At last Hanaleya knelt down by a slow-moving stream and spoke.
“You are quite a unique woman,” the elf leader said. “Part human. Part elf. Blessed by the heavens. Tell me, what is your sign?”
“I was born under the Dragon,” Faela responded, mindful of keeping her tone respectful.
“Yes, the Dragon,” Hanaleya nodded. “A sign of great power. It radiates from you. There will be those who seek to use that power, twist it to their own purpose. I can’t see down the river of your destiny, Faela, but I think that you would be wise to be careful not to let yourself be manipulated.”
“Thank you for your wisdom,” Faela said. “I’ll take your words to heart. Hanaleya, may I ask you something?”
“Of course, child.”
“Are you aware of what’s happening in the outside world? That the Tarsurian Empire has attacked the West?”
Hanaleya did not answer at once, and instead dipped her wrinkled hands into the waters of the stream. After a time she said, “The West has much more to fear than the Tarsurian Empire.”
Faela suddenly grew very nervous. “Are you…are you speaking about this Prophecy?”
“They will speak of it more and more,” Hanaleya said. “All the West’s children. The elves will say it heralds a great time for us, and the humans will say no, it heralds terror and nightmares. The dwarves and the ogres will disagree too. Faela, who are we to argue with the heavens?”
Faela wrinkled her brow. “I—I know that there is division in the land right now. I know that people disagree. But are you saying that we should do nothing?”
“There is doing nothing, and doing nothing,” Hanaleya said mysteriously. “There is no doubt that a time of great turbulence and terror will arrive on our shores shortly. Such things are unavoidable. There will be horror unlike any that the continent has seen in many an age. And for you, Faela, it will be more terrible than you can imagine.”
“For me?” Faela asked, shocked. “Why for me? What do you see when you look into my eyes?”
Again, Hanaleya declined to answer right away. When she did she did not meet Faela’s gaze. “The trials you will undergo will be painful. You will feel hurt from many different directions. You will serve one false god after another, and just when you think you are safe and secure, the worst of it all will descend upon you. You will question everything you know.”
“Please, why are you saying this?” Faela asked. Suddenly she felt like a little girl in the company of this terrible old elf.
“I cannot say,” Hanaleya replied. “I will tell you one more thing. King Boldfrost is not your friend, Faela. You would do well to remember that. The time of all bad things comes, and it comes quickly. You should think carefully before you serve him.”
The night was cold and silent for Faela and her company. Though protected by the host of elves that allowed them to stay within their camp, she couldn’t help but feel as though there was something threatening in the air. The storm had dissipated leaving a wet chill that the fire couldn’t quite drive off.
&
nbsp; Yaura had not spoken more than a word or two since Faela returned. She had expected the Shigata to ask her what Hanaleya wanted, but if Yaura was curious, then she gave no sign of it. Even Tzuri-kai’s usually aggressive temperament had been quieted. Whether the dwarf was chided into humility by the elves or he simply felt unease for some other reason, he did not say.
Faela didn’t mind the quiet. She needed time to think. She hadn’t realized it until then, but she had always regarded the elves of the wild outside of her native Gaellean city with a somewhat mystical sense of wonder. In Tallium there was virtually no difference in the way humans and elves led their lives, but she had always imagined the elven clans of the Jagjaw Mountains to have some mysterious magic that was untamed and profound.
Hanaleya certainly behaved in a way that could be described as profound, but was the elven clan leader truly divining something important or just trying to scare her? Why should she worry about King Boldfrost? She was a Dragon, and therefore extremely important to the realm. What should she fear from anyone?
A long, low howl tore her from her thoughts. She was immediately reminded of the werewolves that had attacked her not so long ago, but somehow also a lifetime ago. Faela wasn’t the only one who reacted to the sound. Yaura’s hand had flown to the hilt her recently returned sword. They made brief eye contact, but the Shigata said nothing.
“Fuck me bloody,” Tzuri-kai moaned. “Will one of you please get those blasted elves to give me back my weapon? I’m as helpless as a prickless peacock.”
“We’re well defended,” Yaura said. “There are at least two-hundred elves in the Othelli Pass. You needn’t worry.”
Another string of curses let them know exactly what Tzuri-kai thought about being protected by elves, but Faela ignored him. She wanted desperately to leave the Jagjaw Mountains behind. It had been so long since she had slept in a bed, and her aching bones needed a proper night’s rest.