Ravenshade

by C S Marks

  “And so he chose then to enter the Stone? To what end?” asked Estle.

  “He did not choose to enter the Stone. It drew him within,” said Arialde. “He would spend days on end gazing at it, trying to recapture lost memories and assuage his terrible grief, but the power of the Stone was not enough. At last he gazed so long, and reached out to the Stone with so much longing, that his spirit was drawn there. He has dwelt there ever since. It is the spirit of Shandor that gives the Stone its power to show the future.”

  Azori stretched and yawned. “This has been a most interesting story,” he said, “yet I would leave this matter for further debate. I am weary, and I have not eaten. Elves may do without, but men need both food and rest. Yet I would ask all of you to consider my plan—destroy the Stone, and take it from the grasp of Wrothgar. Then we can worry about Shandor. Despite your warnings, I believe we stand a better chance of dealing with him.”

  “I am not so certain,” said Rogond, looking into the eyes of the Lady. He had not heard of the horrific, torturous images sent to Gaelen until now.

  “We shall suspend the council until all have rested and refreshed themselves,” said Arialde. “Do not share these matters with anyone outside this chamber in the meantime. I will recall you in a few hours.” Arialde knew that food, drink, and rest would lift everyone’s spirits, and she hoped it would aid them in recognizing a clear path. She wanted time to reflect upon what she had heard.

  Chapter 18

  RAVEN-BAIT

  Arialde would not reconvene the council until sunset. She had spent much of the intervening time alone, having asked Lord Airan—a very accomplished and convincing orator who could put any outlandish rumors to rest—to call the people together and allay their fears.

  He came to her as she sat brooding in her private chamber. “I have done as you asked, and the people are satisfied for the time being. However, there has been a request for an audience…a message of interest.”

  Despite her desire not to be disturbed further, Arialde was intrigued. “Who bears the message?”

  “A friend. I’ll show him in.” He turned and left the chamber, returning in a few moments. Arialde could hear him speaking from outside the chamber door. “Come on then…it’s all right. The Lady will not harm you…she is anxious to hear your message. No, it’s not at all foolish of you. Come on…that’s it. Come on.”

  Airan reappeared with the messenger, who was none other than Collyn of the Currgas. He was not actually their chief, but he was usually appointed as spokesman and messenger. His skin was still damp, the downy fur erect against the twilight chill. He was not comfortable being so far inland, and he shivered as much with fear as with cold. Currgas were nearly helpless on land, although it was not wise to corner one.

  Arialde smiled the moment she beheld him. She loved Collyn’s folk, and they were always welcome. He approached her, turning his bright, ivory-colored face and sparkling blue eyes upward to meet her gaze. Then he bowed, flexing his very remarkable spine such that his hair actually brushed his toes. If Arialde found this comical, she did not show it.

  “Hail, Collyn of the River-folk. You are welcome, as always. What news do you bring?” She reached over onto a small table and offered him a plump, sugared confection made from fruits and nectar.

  Collyn took the offering, but did not eat it. He looked all around the chamber as if evil creatures might be listening from the shadows. When he saw none, he cleared his throat and bowed again. “Thank you, my lady. We have received a message from the Guardians that should be made known to you at once.” He looked around the room again, glancing furtively left and right, and then lowered his voice to a whisper. “They said there was an evil presence over the Lake this morning. It was…a black-winged bird. From their description it sounded like a raven. One of the Guardians tried to bring it down, but failed. They were unsettled…apparently they sensed great evil within the bird. They asked me to bring you the news.” He waited for a moment, uncertain of how the Lady would react. At last, she smiled.

  “Well done, Collyn. The Guardians are correct—this is important news. Please be certain your people do not speak of it, won’t you?”

  “That is not a concern,” said Collyn. “Riffle and I are the only persons who know of it. We will keep your confidence.” He relaxed then, as his task was completed and he had suffered nothing dire. Now he consumed the treat she had given him with relish, his mouth widening into a bright smile. He began eyeing the remaining sweets on the tray, and she lifted it from the table, presenting it to him.

  “My thanks for your good service. It was a glad day when your people arrived at these shores.”

  Collyn took the heavy silver tray and bowed, his eyes alight with anticipation. He would save one confection, perhaps two, to share with Gin-gin.

  After he had gone, Arialde turned to Lord Airan. “This news is not unexpected.” she said. “Lord Kotos is near to our shores, and he travels in the guise of a raven even as Gaelen suspected. He has come to make certain all goes as planned.” She shook her head. “It would have been interesting had one of the Guardians managed to take him…I doubt a water-dragon would make a suitable or accommodating host. Yet all will unfold as intended now.” Then she smiled. “Kotos could not know that the Currgas could understand the Guardians, for he has always left such ‘insignificant people’ out of his calculations. I believe that will be his undoing one day.”

  “You know that tray you gave to Collyn was of pure silver? It was quite valuable,” said Airan.

  Arialde laughed. “And who appointed you guardian of my treasures, beloved Light-elf? Don’t be concerned…the tray is heavy. Collyn will discard it the moment he finishes the last of the sweets. We will recover it. No Currga ever cared for such things. They prefer that all their household items be made of wood.”

  “Why is that?” asked Airan.

  “Because it floats!” said Arialde with a light and cheerful smile. She really was glad for the Currgas. Things always looked brighter in their presence.

  The council reassembled at sunset. Rogond and Galador noted with some dismay that Nelwyn still chose to sit as far from Gaelen as she could manage; usually the two cousins sat together so that they could share thoughts.

  The clouds still hung over the land, dark and brooding, and every now and then a brief, hard rain would fall. Arialde would not quell the weather until various matters had been decided. The grey-clad scouts ranging up and down the lake shore shivered in the wet cold.

  “My friends, I hope you are fed and rested, so that we may decide what course must now be taken,” said Arialde. “I have considered your views, and have formed my own opinion, yet I would hear any plan you would propose or concern you would share. First, know this: if you held any doubts as to the truth or falsehood of Gaelen’s concerns, hold them no longer. Lord Kotos has been seen flying near the island, in the guise of a raven. He would only be here to ensure that his carefully orchestrated plan came to pass. If Nelwyn’s visions were true, that would not be the case. She made no mention of Kotos, and Orrion most certainly would not have been seen defending Mountain-home.” Arialde was silent then, awaiting any response.

  Rogond spoke first. “Gaelen and I have been in conference with Fima, and we have agreed on one thing. The Stone must remain here where it may be protected, or it must be destroyed as Azori suggests. Yet although we understand Azori’s reasoning, I believe that such a drastic measure is ill advised. We should not trade our present difficulties for bigger ones.” So saying, he sat back down between Gaelen and Azori.

  “You say ‘we’ and then you say ‘I’, Rogond. How do Gaelen and Fima feel about destroying the Stone?” asked Arialde.

  “I agree with Rogond,” said Fima. “Gaelen is conflicted in that she does not want to destroy the Stone, but she does wish that Shandor could be free of it. She, as with many of us, is afraid of the consequences.”

  “It’s not just that I am afraid of the consequences,” said Gaelen, and her
eyes flashed as she rose to her feet. “There is a way that we might use the Stone to lure Gorgon Elfhunter to his doom. I, for one, would regret missing that chance.”

  “Now I know you have gone mad,” muttered Estle. “You would risk the Stone just to kill Gorgon? It would seem that Nelwyn was right.”

  Gaelen bristled, and her ears flushed red. “Right about what? If this all it takes for you to lose faith in me, how shallow your friendship is. I am not dim-witted. Yes, the taking of Gorgon Elfhunter is often in the forefront of my thoughts. If that makes me self-centered, then so be it. He is a weight around my neck…he is a suffocating darkness upon my spirit. The fact that he is still breathing brings me constant vexation. I have endured more than any of you in all of this, and I have the right to my priorities! You do not have to agree to them. What I am proposing is to allow Lord Kotos to believe that we are moving the Stone. I want his plan to fail. I want to avenge the wrongs he has done to my friends, most especially Nelwyn. And I am willing to risk my own life to ensure that he takes the bait.”

  “Calm yourself, Gaelen,” said Azori. “My sister meant no insult. You obviously have not rested, and you are far too sensitive.”

  “Sounded like an insult to me,” said Fima, his eyes darkening.

  Nelwyn rose to her feet and moved to stand before Gaelen. “I was hurt and humiliated, and I am still humiliated. I know you did what you believed was right, and I know that you tried to safeguard me. I had forgotten that you have first-hand knowledge of what I was feeling. Let us forgive each other and make our plans. I will follow you, as I have always done.” They embraced, and the tension visibly disappeared from both of them.

  “What’s this plan you would put forth, Gaelen?” asked Hallagond. “I’m intrigued.”

  “It’s not really a complete plan,” said Gaelen, “but I thought that perhaps we could have artisans construct a…a replica of the Stone? And then I will take it to some faraway place, presumably to hide it from Lord Wrothgar. Gorgon will surely follow after, bringing Lord Kotos with him.”

  “And then what?” asked Nelwyn in alarm. “You say you will take it…do you mean alone? How will you bring down Gorgon when you are alone in some wild land? He will kill you as soon as he secures the Stone, and most assuredly when he finds that it is false!”

  “He will not know that I am luring him, and I have ways of making sure that he knows what I will have him know,” said Gaelen. “Kotos will go along because Gorgon will advise him. When he realizes that Gorgon was wrong, and they were both misled, I will be the least of Gorgon’s troubles.” A cunning smile crossed her face, unsettling all who beheld it.

  “This would be a very dangerous task,” said Arialde. “The idea has merit, though you cannot go alone. And we must make certain that every action that we take makes sense to Lord Kotos, or we will be unmasked.”

  “He will expect us to rely on stealth and secrecy in moving the Stone,” said Gaelen. “I am the undisputed master of stealth, as my name, Taldin, would imply. None of your folk can rival my abilities, and I say it with some pride. Gorgon is well aware of my talent, and Kotos will be, too. Besides, I will not be going alone. Fima, at least, must go with me.”

  “Why Fima?” asked Hallagond, who was not surprised to see the smile on the old dwarf’s face.

  “Because Fima bears the mirror,” said Rogond.

  “Yes,” said Gaelen. “Through it, I can ‘show’ Gorgon things I would have him know, yet keep from him what I will.” She smiled another rather dark smile. “Lord Wrothgar will regret the day he bestowed that token upon the Elfhunter, if he hasn’t already.” She shook her head. “I will certainly need to keep my wits about me.”

  “Who else would accompany you?” asked Nelwyn. “You are surely not going without Galador and me!

  “There must be only a few who travel this road,” said Arialde, “as we would not attract attention, and the fewer thoughts for Lord Kotos to read, the better for all. You will need to guard yourselves...in fact, it would be best if you could all be convinced that the Stone is real. Kotos will pull Gorgon off the trail at the first hint that it is not.”

  “Ah, but you are forgetting something,” said Gaelen. “Gorgon will do Kotos’ bidding, but he prefers directing his own destiny. Once Gorgon is hard on my trail, he will not stop until he has taken me. One of us will surely not return, and the depth of Gorgon’s hatred for me will prevail over any command given by Lord Kotos. As I said before, it does not do to underestimate either Gorgon or me.” She looked around the circle of friends.

  “Gorgon will not like the notion that he has been deceived any more than Kotos will…he will not allow me to manipulate him and get away with it. I saw the blood-lust on the face of Orrion when I encountered him alone on a dark night. The memory still haunts my thoughts. He will not suffer me to remain alive much longer.”

  She cast her eyes downward. “So long as Gorgon walks, my spirit is darkened,” she said. Then she looked up at Nelwyn. “Do you perceive why I would never have been chosen by Kotos, as you were? This is my task, and my destiny. I will do what I must do.”

  In that moment, Azori, whose knack for breaking a tense moment was unexcelled, spoke to no one in particular. “Once again, I am very glad that I am not an Elf.”

  “At last, we have found some common ground,” said Galador.

  Arialde was not convinced. “Do not take Lord Kotos lightly, Gaelen. The Elfhunter is no match for him—make no mistake.”

  “I do not take him lightly,” said Gaelen. “And I know that, for a time, Gorgon’s every move will be directed. Yet you must not underestimate Gorgon’s strength of will. If I can lure him long enough, he will not be turned back, no matter what. Besides,” she said with a familiar, lopsided smile, “even if he breaks off the pursuit, what is the harm? Kotos and Wrothgar are foiled in either case. What is the harm?” At this, Rogond nodded. These were comforting words.

  “And what plan would you put forward to bring down your enemy once you confront him?” said Azori. “You don’t have a plan, do you? I thought not. If I were you, I would start planning, and not wait until you have no choice but to face him. From what you have told me, you will need to have at least a rough idea of your course of action.”

  Gaelen smiled again. “It will come to me, Azori,” she said. “And I will not be alone, remember? I have loyal and formidable friends. Gorgon has the spirit of Kotos as his ally, but he fights his battles alone.”

  “You cannot count on that,” said Galador. “Have you forgotten that evil beings attract evil to themselves? I expect Lord Kotos could summon an army of Ulcas if he were so inclined. They will no doubt be commanded to see to your deaths.”

  “They’ll have to catch us first,” said Gaelen. “I won’t be concerning myself with Ulcas. I plan to not release my last breath until I can look upon Gorgon’s carcass. Do you not understand that this opportunity may not come again for a long while? If all goes right, Gorgon will be dead. Kotos and Wrothgar will have been foiled, and perhaps even damaged. It would not surprise me if Wrothgar staged an attack on Mountain-home just to be convincing. If so, then the Elves will have an opportunity to eliminate a large number of enemies. There is much to be gained, if all goes right.”

  “If, if, if! You have not the slightest idea of how you will accomplish any of it,” said Azori. He looked over at his half-sister, Estle. “Please tell me you aren’t thinking of going along on this foolhardy quest.”

  “As if you have ever planned anything in your life, Azori,” said Estle. “You’re well known for pouncing when opportunity calls, but you and your men have lived by the skin of your teeth most of the time. Gaelen doesn’t even know where she is going as yet. It would be difficult to formulate a plan.”

  “Well, if Gaelen succeeds in killing Gorgon…” Fima began.

  “When I succeed in killing him,” Gaelen interrupted.

  “All right, when you succeed in killing him, what will happen to Lord Kotos? I don’t expect he will be
destroyed,” said Fima.

  “That is difficult to say, as his ways and abilities are not fully known to me,” said Arialde. “Yet this much is certain—he will be seeking a new host, so you must all guard yourselves. And do not touch the amulet under any circumstances!”

  “He will still have his raven friend,” said Hallagond.

  “Why would you assume that?” asked Gaelen, smiling and making a gesture with both hands as though drawing and aiming a bow into the air. “I like raven feathers as fletching. Perhaps I will collect some.”

  Arialde shook her head. “Our plan has begun to take form, but we must decide what else is to be done. A contingent will be sent to Mountain-home, and we must decide how many will go and what they will be told. It is my belief that they should not be aware of our deception, only that they are going to the realm of Ordath to aid her in quelling a potential invasion from the North. We should send enough of our folk to be convincing, but maintain an effective defense force here in Tal-sithian.”

  “And that means also that the route taken by Gaelen and her companions must be separate from the road to Mountain-home,” said Fima. “I know we had discussed several possible destinations. One was the ruin of Eádros, one was the realm of Grundin, and one was the ruin of Tuathas. Which of these has the most merit?”