by J. J. Lorden
“I didn’t know it was going to be permanent. But somehow I activated a naming ritual.” He smiled coyly. “Just dumb luck. But I do like the name. It suits me.”
“Indeed.” She closed the cover and reverently handed the book back to him. The way she handled it had Carson wondering how unusual a bound spell book truly was. Princess Sedane spoke to Nero. “Am I correct to assume it was not a coincidence you found young Carson?”
“Yes, my Lady. I was compelled by the wood to wait as I did.”
“It is clear then. He is your charge.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Nero replied with a slight incline of his head.
“Excellent. Outfit him as you see fit, I will confer with the queen and send word if she has any further instructions.”
Sedane then looked to Carson. Her eyes squinted ever so slightly above a little smile. She looked hungry.
“Carson, it has been a rare pleasure to meet you and hear your story.” She paused to run a pair of gentle fingers from her mouth corner, along her bottom lip, and then down her chin. Carson shivered.
“Perhaps in the future, an instance may arise for us to speak again, less publicly.” He nearly choked at her implication. Part of him wondering if they could have that meeting right now.
He recovered quickly and cleared his throat, then gave her a small bow and met her look. “Princess Sedane, it has been my honor. I will very much look forward to that opportunity.” Her lips quirked, and her eyes flashed in response. Then she turned and left.
He stared after her, drinking in the curve of her back, the sway of her hips, and the athletic lines of her legs. The layered translucent folds of her skirt teased his imagination viciously. It was only when Nero gently squeezed his shoulder that Carson finally came back to himself.
“Let’s go, lover boy. You can’t wear that torn up shirt around here, and I want my pants back.”
“She’s unbelievable. I’ve never met anyone even close to having the raw sensual power she’s got.”
“No, I’m sure you haven’t. Let’s go.”
He walked with Nero past the backside of the archery range. There were five elves practicing now. He recognized the one on the end immediately as having participated in his terror-stricken run because she was slightly shorter and wearing clothing exactly like Nero’s.
He glared at the woman. As if sensing his attention, the two archers beside her stopped loosing arrows and turned to regard him, both resting one end of their bows on a booted toe.
The bows came up to just below their shoulders. They both nodded to his escort and smiled good-naturedly at Carson. Carson decided they had a sick sense of humor.
The woman on the end did not look their way. Instead, she smoothly drew another arrow, turned in their direction, and raised her bow skyward.
Slightly alarmed by this, Carson took a step back and looked toward Nero. The elf smirked.
Carson looked back to the archer. Beside the fletching, drawn tight to her cheek, he saw the Elven archer’s mouth had a mischievous twist.
She released. The arrow screamed into the sky too fast for Carson to follow.
Nero took a step away and, with a distinct note of warning, said, “Do not move, naked boy.”
His meaning was clear and dread knotted Carson’s stomach. “Fucking hell, Nero. Seriously?!” The seconds seemed to take hours as he stared into the sky, searching for the projectile. The whistle of the arrow reached him a split second before it thumped into the ground, barely a foot in front of him. Carson felt himself get dizzy, and he fought off fainting.
Calmly, Nero stepped to the arrow. It was half buried. He knelt, grasped the shaft at the ground and pulled it free easily. Standing, he knocked the arrowhead on his foot, clearing two dark wedges of soil that clung behind the point.
He addressed the female archer. “Enough games, Naria.” An underhand flip then sent the bolt at her with deadly velocity.
Naria casually snared it just above her shoulder, and with a predator’s gleam, nodded to Carson.
Carson was not amused. He began to second guess his initial reaction to the Princess Sedane. Were all elves insane? Maybe she was secretly as insane as this Naria, and he just hadn’t seen her crazy yet.
His instincts said this suspicion was more likely true than not.
With that in mind, Carson decided to put any and all of his amorous intentions on hold. He had zero interest in feeling like a fox trapped in a wolf’s den or being perceived as a boytoy. Before anything went down, he would first need to become powerful and cultivate at least some measure of comfort with their deadly games.
He’d known powerful, confident women and learned to fly his own freak flag because of them. But these Elven women were another thing entirely. “Elves are insane.”
“Games of skill are not insane, naked boy. They are foreplay. You would do well to remember that.” He looked briefly at the female archer. “Naria’s display was impressive, even for a guardian of her capacity.” He raised a meaningful eyebrow to him and turned away.
They walked for several minutes in silence, passing between broadly spaced trees, and passing many elves, all of whom nodded respectfully to Nero. He always returned the gesture in kind.
They passed over a wide, arching bridge that spanned a stream. On the far side, a subtle tingle rolled over his skin, it felt just like leaving his spawn point grove. His feet were suddenly on hard pavestones and the whole scene before them changed.
The large, loosely spaced trees and dirt footpaths were pulled away like a curtain, revealing a scene reminiscent of the national mall. Open green spaces, bounded by purple, red, and pink flowering trees were crossed by a network of curving, cobblestone pathways being traversed by hundreds of elves.
In the center, a grove of trees loomed like skyscrapers.
The shift was disorienting, causing him to stumble then slow to a stop. “Whaa…Hoolly…” Carson muttered, slowly tracing the nearest tree trunk all the way up until his head hit his back.
He swallowed, suddenly feeling very small and slightly dizzy. Carson lost himself in the sight, and everything got very quiet as his mind worked double-time to take in the enormity of the Elven city.
Nero got his attention by snapping fingers in his face. “Ahhh! Come on man.” Carson scowled at him. “You don’t have to be a dick about it. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s pretty amazing bro. Most people would stop and stare.”
“No, most people would not. Because most people would never see this. The wardings protect our home from both sight and trespass, so few ever lay eyes on Dakarlineel. You’re one lucky bastard. And I’m not your bro.” His flat look chilled Carson. “Now, let’s go.”
Carson bit back a retort and followed Nero, taking in the marvel of Dakarlineel.
His thoughts were occasionally drawn into considering the Elven women when they passed a female. More than one gave the impression of wanting to consume him.
His resolve was bolstered, these women were lions.
Even so, the conundrum felt unusually weighty. Their sensual energy had a magnetic quality his body responded to, but his head kept screaming Danger!
With a bit of breathing, he cleared his head enough to admit that, despite having endangered his life, Naria had an undeniable draw. But it was nothing like Sedane.
“Naria’s archery stunt was pretty amazing. I mean it was scary as fuck-nuggets, but it was also impressive, and she was sexy. At least in a, I like to flirt with death, kind of way. So I think I get her. But how do you deal with talking to the princess?”
“It does take some getting used to, though she has a much more significant impact on some.”
That was exciting. Maybe she’s really into me, Carson thought. “Really? Is it like a mystical connection or some kind of soul magic?”
“Some of it may be that, although it’s more likely you’re just, ahh... shall we say, more pent up than the rest of us.”
Carson had to concede him the point. He’d ne
ver been one for casual flings, and his last relationship had ended more than nine months ago. It was a pretty significant dry spell and taking care of himself wasn’t anywhere near the same as being with a woman.
He’d been able to get over his aversion to casual sex at times in his life, particularly when he’d been living in New York and running his original pizza joint. Hooking up casually was part of the culture in the city.
Since leaving he’d reverted to his old boring ways, only sleeping with the two women he’d been in a real relationship with. The hell if he was going to get into that with Nero, though.
“That could be, I won’t deny it. That being said... from the brief bit I’ve seen, am I right to presume your culture is pretty open-minded... sexually, I mean?”
“No. That’s the wrong perspective. Our culture is right minded about sex. Human and some other cultures are just sexually retarded. All Elven women and men have multiple partners without issue. You seem to possess a measure of this human nonsense… are part human?” Nero asked.
“I am. Thirteen percent, to be exact.”
“Again, with the percentages. You’re odd, naked boy.”
Then they arrived at the base of a towering tree with dark, almost black bark. The trunk had to be at least 50 feet across, and it rose several hundred feet before the first branches and a couple hundred more before the canopy proper started.
The overhang was unbelievable. Carson felt like he was standing at the base of the Empire State building with the Pentagon stuck on top.
He blinked and looked away from the disorienting sight. Nero was standing beside a series of symbols seemingly grown into the patterns of the bark.
He put his hand over one of the glyphs and addressed Carson. “Put your hand on my shoulder.” Carson did so without question; the Elven man was supposed to be taking care of him, after all.
Nero pulled a pendant from beneath his armor, wrapped his other hand around it, and Carson felt an electric charge race over the surface of his skin. In a confusing moment, the scene in front of him went dark, he felt disembodied and floating, and then the scene faded back in, like dimmed lights coming back on in a theatre. He peered about, his whole-body alert from the shift in location.
Their arrival spot was a platform embraced within the canopy of the tree. Its low rails were grown, living parts of the tree.
He pulled his hand off Nero’s shoulder. They faced an elegant wooden door with a rounded top. Around it, in rich browns and golden yellows was a design of interwoven flowering vines. The wood of the door had a silvery glint, as if permeated by flecks of metal.
“Best damn treehouse ever,” he muttered to himself under his breath. Casting a look at Nero, the elf raised a questioning eyebrow at him, apparently, the elf had good hearing. Duhh, he’s an elf.
Carson ignored the expression, and turning about, he walked to the edge of the platform. To say he was further astounded by the sight didn’t capture the sensation of every nerve in his body prickling at once. The drop had to be a thousand feet or more.
There were other trees around too, with long arching bridges between them. Supporting each was a seemingly random tangle of spidery, interlaced wood. A steady flow of Elven residents crossed between trees on them.
It was a good thing Carson was okay with heights. Even so, he felt oddly comfortable with the height and lack of safety restrictions. Nero gave him a moment to take it in, then spoke up.
“Yes, we are quite high. Does it discomfort you?”
“No. I’m completely comfortable with it.” Carson paused, then continued, “Honestly, I almost feel as if I could jump off here and I would be okay. Obviously, that’s nonsense, but still it just feels comfortable or easy to be here.”
“Huh.” Nero grumped and squinted at him. “We shall see. Come, naked boy. I want my pants back, and you must speak with Irrienna.”
Carson looked down at the far distant ground once more–the height felt freeing. Then he followed Nero through the one door on the platform and into the Elven structure.
The inside was quite a bit larger than it should have been. Carson wondered if there was another illusion warding the exterior. If there wasn’t, this place was definitely messing with the laws of natural space.
Nero led him down the hall. They passed a few other doors and openings before arriving in front of a counter. The guardian leaned casually on the counter and spoke quietly to the attendant, who seemed to appraise Carson, then duck below it for no more than a few seconds.
She emerged holding a stack of dark green clothing with an elegant silver and green buckle resting on top.
The young female elf handed the stack to him without so much as a comment, face completely neutral. Well, that’s refreshingly professional.
He accepted the stack and opened its description.
Whitewood Raiments of the Initiate—Full set 5/5
Quality—Superior 240/240
Armor: 40
Full set Attributes
+10 Intellect
+10 Wisdom
+10 Constitution
Set Bonuses: +20% speed, +20% health regeneration
“Is this mine?” Carson asked cautiously, not wanting to hear a response to the negative.
Much to his great relief, Nero nodded. “It’s not free mind you. You’re going to earn that by helping me. By helping the Whitewood.”
Carson paused expectantly, waiting for further explanation or a quest dialog.
“We’ll get to that later,” Nero said. “There’s more to do first. Now, get yourself into that gear. Won’t do you any good just holding it.”
With a sigh, Carson looked for a place to change.
“Still with this?” Nero chided. “Given how we met and my having explained our culture, you realize how ridiculous that is, right?”
Carson balked and glanced at the attractive young attendant. “Don’t you have a changing room?”
“All right, naked boy, I’ll tell you what, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll disrobe too, just so you’re not alone. How’d you like that?”
“What? Goddammit, Nero! No, why the hell would I...” His heated retort just devolved into grumbling. “Fine.” Carson glowered at the man, and then he stripped. If this was their culture, then to hell with it. When in Rome, right?
As he proceeded to pull the set of armor on–pants first, of course–it quickly became a good thing that Nero was close by, since the Elven gear wasn’t entirely self-explanatory.
The top slipped on like a sleeved doublet, but the sides had no fasteners, and one breast was longer. It was apparent that the longer one was meant to go under as it lacked the ornamental edging and appearance of the shorter side.
He wrapped the long side around to the side of his ribs, but there was nothing to hold it in place. He held it there and just looked at Nero, befuddled.
The Elven guardian pointed out a spot up under his armpit that activated a magical fastening effect when touched. This sealed the long wrap to the doublet, snugly but comfortably, along the side of his ribs.
The shorter wrap side fastened the same way on the left side of his chest using a touch point in his other armpit. It went almost as far around as the first, attaching where his ribs bent back.
Nero then showed him how the top corner of the outer folded down and snapped into place with a pull that felt almost magnetic.
The triangular fold made a light green triangle against the forest green armor with its point at his neck and base centered above his sternum. In the flap, embroidered with white thread, was the outline of an evergreen tree. He recognized it from the clothing of many of the elves.
“Why a pine tree?” Carson asked. “I haven’t seen a single evergreen since I got here.”
“Ancient history,” Nero said. “A story for another time, when I’m in a better mood.” Carson let it be. He’d find out eventually.
The other parts of the set were boots, gloves, and belt. The gloves were similar to Nero’s but wit
hout inscriptions. The pants had attachment points on the upper legs, presumably for knives or other small weapons, and slender pockets in the back.
The boots were soft and comfortable, and they had a strap and loop system for tightening. Nero showed him another point on the belt buckle that, when activated, tightened automatically. The whole outfit fit like a second skin.
After putting on the entire set, Carson felt both dapper and significantly more powerful. The stat bonuses were massive for him, adding 50% to both of his main mental stats and nearly doubling his constitution. The speed bonus was a huge boon too. A mobile mage could both rain devastation on his enemies and avoid their attacks. Carson thought it was an insightful bonus for a caster’s set of armor.
He looked up at Nero and held out his hands, silently asking the warrior’s opinion of how he looked.
“Yep, ya look a damn sight better.” Then he held out one hand. “Pants.”
Carson handed the pants back, not even that sad to see them go. His new gear wasn’t a champion’s set, but it was lightyears better than wandering around without pants. Hell, it was miles better than any starting set of gear he’d ever enjoyed in any game… ever.
“That armor is now bound to you until you willingly relinquish it,” Nero said. “The fastening points on the buckle and tunic are paired with your soul energy and will only work for you.”
“Ohh cool, I was kind of wondering about that.” He thought about it for a moment and asked, “What if someone forces my hand onto these fastening spots when I’m unconscious?”
“Won’t work, it’s bound to your will. If you touch them and don’t actually want them to activate, nothing happens.”
“Ahhh, that makes sense. Absolutely amazing and fantastically logical, very Elven.” He smiled toothily.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it,” Nero responded with a little smirk. “Okay, naked boy, now for the fun part.”
He’d been tolerating the derogatory nickname mostly because the Elven Champion was intimidating as hell. But Carson was feeling a bit better now, fully clothed in new armor and jumped up on the stat boosts. He decided it needed to end.