“Can the Baron be trusted to live up to his end of the bargain?” Argon asked.
“That is the question,” Calden agreed.
“No,” Jason answered, “he is too unpredictable and with the Captain and I both in the field there will be no one to temper his mad lusts. Once the ammo is safe he will press any advantage he can.”
“Then we will have to take precautions of our own,” Daniel replied flatly.
Daniel, Alan, Lissette and Barton rode to the elf enclave so Daniel could speak with his grandfather.
Jason left the next morning for the castle and to report the outcome of his talks with Daniel. He had no sooner arrived in the castle’s stables when a terrified messenger arrived.
“Sir,” the young page got out between gasps for air, “The Baron said for you to come to him straight away and it there was any delay…”
Jason turned to the stable boy, “collect my things and get them to my rooms. I need to go before this boy dies of fright from the Baron’s capricious disposition.”
The stable boy only nodded wanting to take little part in anything involving the Baron.
Jason’s step was lively to keep pace with the page who would have been happier at a dead run.
The door guards had apparently also been given instructions, for as soon as they saw him, they looked almost relieved, and opened the door without the usual ceremony of announcement. Jason used those few strides to prepare himself for an onslaught of ill-tempered noble.
“Baron,” he began as he entered the room. Jason moved fast so as to appear he had made great haste and stopped before the Baron’s desk.
“I expected you yesterday,” the Baron said with a flat angry tone. His face was red from his agitated state and Jason knew to avoid any opening for the Baron to use against him.
“My apologies, Sire, but the negotiations were more arduous than we expected. You were of course correct, Baron, on the value of the elf and it seems one hundred rounds was slightly more than the elf was worth to them,” Jason explained calmly.
“So you failed to get me the ammo?” The Baron asked, as he reddened. It was clear to Jason that the Baron was on the edge of one of his rages.
“Baron, I said the negotiations were hard, not unsuccessful. They have agreed to the swap in the amount of one hundred rounds as you demanded.” Jason delivered the news with as much puffery as he could muster, hoping to diffuse the Baron. Jason waited to see which way the Baron’s mood was going to swing. The Baron stared for a second as if he were deciding on whether or not to explode, and Jason was relieved to see the tension and blood veins in the Baron’s face begin to subside.
“What was the agreement, then?” the Baron asked in a calmer voice.
“Their demands were fairly simple, Baron. They want the exchange to occur in the clear, out of range of a crossbow,” Jason began.
“Of course they did,” the Baron scoffed. “They would have been idiots not to ask that.”
“The second condition,” Jason continued, “is that no guards leave the castle or come through the gate until after the exchange is made and all parties have left the field.”
The Baron hesitated only a second before nodding, indicating that Jason should continue.
“If the terms are agreed, a solid red flag is to be flown over the portcullis two sunrises from now,” Jason concluded.
“Make the arrangements.” With that, the Baron went back to whatever he was reading, making it clear he was no longer interested in discussion and Jason had been dismissed.
THIRTY-ONE
The ammo wasn’t a problem, Daniel had made and stockpiled several hundred rounds along with a few more rifles, just in case. This was not one of the cases he had anticipated. As they rode toward the enclave, he ran scenario after scenario in his mind trying to anticipate the Baron’s treacheries and prepare for them.
The riders had been silent, for the most part, as if some silent agreement had been made to let him think. They were halfway back when Lissette that broke the silence. “You know the Baron will try to kill you. He won’t be able to resist the chance.”
“That is why I have to go,” Daniel replied, “he will try and kill anyone there if he can.”
“If you go, I go,” she said in a voice that brooked no argument.
Instead of responding to her, he turned to Barton. “What would you estimate is the distance across the clearing from the trees to the moat, Barton?”
They rode silently for a minute with Barton thinking about the question. “Two hundred paces is my best guess.”
“And who would you want with a rifle protecting you at that distance?” Daniel asked.
“No you don’t,” Lissette’s anger was nearly palpable, “I go with you. End of discussion.”
“Lissette, if you were me, who would you trust to kill someone crossing the draw bridge and possibly scaring them off while those at the exchange get away? Who would you pick to protect me?”
Lissette was as close to sputtering as Daniel had ever seen. She was by far the best shot and she knew it. She also knew that if something went south, she had the best chance of a meaningful hit at that distance. He knew his logic was right, and she could think of nothing more infuriating than his damnable logic.
No less frustrated, but under better control her reply was cold and flat. “You listen to me, mister chosen one, before you do something stupid, you remember that I have no life without you. With a broken match, the likelihood is I die moping to death, as is our lot, and rather than dying from the lost bond, I will do something that makes your stupidity pale in comparison.” With that she spurred her horse ahead not wanting to even provide the opportunity for a response.
When she was clearly out of earshot Daniel turned to Alan and Barton and asked, “What did that mean? That made no sense at all. Did she just say she could be more stupid than me?”
“I think you are dense as a stone, boy,” Barton replied. “It means she loves you, and elven match or not, she has no intention of letting you die without someone paying a price she can extract with her life.”
They rode quietly for a few seconds before Alan spoke up. “And, I think, it means we won’t have to worry about not hearing your amorous activities for a while.”
Barton chuckled, “And there is that.”
Daniel was less amused and rode on quietly trying to understand how the right thing always seemed to get him in the most trouble.
When they arrived at the enclave Lissette was already at Eliana’s house. Rather than walk into a storm, Daniel guided his horse directly to Beylvar’s. Barton and Alan went to retrieve the ammo.
Beylvar was waiting in his common room as if he had been expecting Daniel.
“Grandfather,” Daniel began, “you know they have Durbin, but they are willing to trade him for one hundred pieces of the ammo. I cannot in good conscience refuse the trade with Durbin’s life in the balance.”
“If you have made your decision, why do you come to me with this?” The old elf asked.
Daniel took a deep breath. He hadn’t expected this kind of response and wasn’t sure how to proceed. “You raised fears about the weapon getting captured, and you were correct to do so. We have a plan to destroy the ammo after the exchange, which would render the rifle useless, at least for now. What I wanted to ask, is what you think the Baron will do once the trade is made. We know we can’t trust him.”
Beylvar looked at his grandson for a moment considering all the different things he could say. When he spoke his voice was low and calm. “The Baron will surely try and attack you and kill all there. He will have no concern for his own people once he is sure he will get what he wants. Also, the Baron knows he is untrustworthy and will assume the same of you. Be prepared for far more than you now expect.”
“Thank you for your advice,” Daniel said sincerely. “Jason will return to the castle immediately to arrange the swap. We will prepare as best we can.” Dani
el paused for a moment and then voiced his real reason for the visit.
“Grandfather, are there any spells specifically used for combat or war?”
Beylvar was silent for a moment, watching Daniel and the worry on his face. When he spoke it was not what Daniel had hoped for. “The only battle magic I know, is the song of the swordsman which you have already strengthened according to Calden.
“But that is one man against another,” Daniel pressed, “isn’t there something that could be used to stop or slow and entire battle?”
Beylvar smiled slightly in sympathy for his grandson, but had no good answers. “Daniel, the most powerful magic we know requires a group of trained elders merging their songs and building slowly to a peak. It took us several hours to send you across to the other world. Battles are too quick and unpredictable for a group of elders to sit and sing, hoping to get the power and the timing right.”
Daniel sat quietly for a moment thinking it all through. “Grandfather, what about spells that move things or stop things from moving? Are there spells that could disrupt a battlefield if they could be done quickly enough?”
Is was Beylvar’s turn to consider what he knew in the light of Daniel’s perspective. The discussion went well in to the night. Daniel found that the elves didn’t really have any war chants. Most of their magic was aimed at manipulating the elements and the practical applications that were for building. If they needed to move rocks, dig a tunnel, help a forest heal after a fire; these were the focus. Daniel listened and learned. He was impressed by the variety of songs, some of which sounded familiar, but he was more impressed by the lack of aggression in this culture.
“Grandfather, would the mountain elves know more?” Daniel asked.
“It is possible that Calden would know more. I am surprised you haven’t asked him.” Beylvar watched his grandson and saw the discomfort. “Why haven’t you asked?”
“It seems - private somehow, the kind of question you might only ask someone you have known your whole life or is family.”
Beylvar smiled. “For someone who did not grow up here, your instincts are very good. But I think at this point, if rudeness saves lives it will be forgiven. If it eases your conscious, it may not have occurred to him that you don’t know or that the group magic he has seen could have value to you. Remember, son, you are new to us as well.
Now I think it is time you faced your real concerns.”
This caught Danial by surprise. “What concerns do you mean?”
Beylvar smiled again, this time with a bit more amusement. “I believe this conversation could have waited till the morrow, so, perhaps there is a conversation you are trying to avoid.”
“Does everyone know everything that happens around here?” Daniel asked completely exasperated.”
Beylvar’s grin was disturbing as he tapped his pointed left ear.
Daniel sagged a little in response.
“Son, we are a people of nature and the earth, the natural progression of things and people hold no shame for us. But your sense of privacy does provide great amusement for our whole clan.”
Daniel could only shake his head in response and began to think of other ways to avoid the confrontation with Lissette.
The horse had been taken care of, probably by Alan he thought, so the walk back to the room at Eliana’s was both too long and too short. He started to try and creep in quietly and then reminded himself about all the super ears and gave up on the idea of stealth.
He was quiet going in, but when he got into their room he could tell she was awake. He wasn’t sure how, but he could feel the anticipation in the room. He started undressing and had one leg half out of his pants when she broke the silence.
“Did you learn anything?” Her tone was flat, he thought, a little more of a demand than a question.
“I learned that elves don’t have any combat or war spells,” he replied.
“I could have told you that,” she said with a tone that pronounced him the town dunce.
“Yes, but you would have to have been talking to me instead of being in a snit,” he replied with more than a hint of impatience.
The room was very quiet as he continued undressing.
“I don’t know what a snit is, but I don’t think I like the sound of it.” Less angry and a little more unsure, he thought, and hoped for a possible warming trend.
“Snit, is when someone is angry because they know someone else is right and they don’t like it,” he replied not sure what the actual definition of a snit was.
The room remained quiet as he got into bed and wondered at the reception. She neither moved closer nor away and he took that as a good sign.
“I learned something else,” he said quietly, “that everyone thinks I am a prude and I am the subject of great amusement.”
“Prude?” She asked with more interest.
Sigh. “It’s someone who is very private about things like sex and personal business and behavior, and, is embarrassed by everyone knowing those things.”
“Prude. We don’t really have a word like that except maybe for ‘priest’, but it does fit you,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“Thanks. We are also protective of the ones we love.”
“Prudes?”
“No, people from where I come from…you are just being mean now.” He caught himself and heard what sounded like a giggle being swallowed.
“You know this match thing is new to me, everyone knowing every intimate detail is new to me, being a magician is new to me and a tiny bit of compassion would be welcome.” His tone had taken on the sound of a reprimand. He hadn’t meant it to come out that way, but it was how he felt.
“Compassion? Did I knock you off the horse when you blocked me from coming with you?” She demanded.
“No.” He responded now sounding more confused.
“There is you compassion.” There was a few seconds pause before she continued. “Eliana says I am missing the point and the point is that you show care by protecting me. I told her I know that but I don’t need protecting and she laughed at me.”
“She pointed out that my parents tried to protect me from the Baron, and my noble birth protects me from the mistreatment commoners might experience. She said everyone needs protection at some time and that you had given me the most important job and that was protecting you. Daniel, I am not used to being part of a team and I am not used to someone else making decisions for me. I will not be one of those superfluous damsels.”
“Superfluous damsels - the kind that can split a man’s head with a rifle shot at fifty paces - those damsels?” He asked. She had slid closer to him and her head had somehow found its way onto his shoulder.
“Don’t quibble,” she said, “I am trying to apologize for over-reacting.”
“So Eliana tries to counsel you and Beylvar is working on me. Is this normal?”
“No, I am half human so they are trying to help me with that temperament and while you are elf you act human. So they are trying to teach us what an elf would already know. Barton, Alan and Aldon have a bet on how long it will be till your next blunder.”
“Bet? Blunder? Like what?”
“Like thinking anything that happens in this room is really private.” With that he found her lips on his and her hand communicating in a different way.
The next morning all seemed back to normal much to Daniel’s relief. Alan and Barton had retrieved the ammo bag and were waiting on the front porch. “Have either of you heard of magic that is intended to do damage like in a war, something the mountain elves might know that people here would not?” Daniel asked without even a greeting.
Barton shook his head, “No, but if they did they wouldn’t have bothered telling us. Have you asked Calden?”
“No, but I thought he would have volunteered anything like that to help out,”
Daniel replied with frustration.
“Every now and then I have to remind my
self how little you know about the way things are here. This isn’t one of those times,” Barton quipped.
Daniel stepped off the porch and the others followed continuing there fun at his expense. “You know,” Daniel said, “you keep this up and I may turn one of you into a frog.”
“Can he do that?” Alan asked in general.
“Never heard of such a thing,” Barton replied, “but who knows what he may be able to do.” His tone was in between trying not to laugh and sounding frightened for Alan’s benefit.
“I am not worried about it,” Lissette said nonchalantly, “if he thinks the neighbors are interested in our sex life now, just wait for that.” The laughter began in earnest again and Daniel was glad they couldn’t see his face and wondered if there was a spell for blushing. They loaded up supplies and headed to the army camp with only an occasional croak from one of the three.
Elves- the Book of Daniel Page 28