by Lance Wilson
“Can you sit up” she asks, her voice firm and harsh, almost agitated
“You don’t care for me do you” Mellyruna says with a chuckle as he sits up.
“I don’t care for anyone sent by Mecmed.” She growls, her eyes glaring right into his.
Quickly she is taken back, his eyes, they are so soft, so inviting, but just behind all that, a power, a power like a tempest storm waiting to be unleashed on his enemy. They reflect Griffin’s own eyes, the soft inviting way they look at you, and they way they conceal the power that once belonged to the gods themselves. How can this be, no, she can’t believe it, no one’s power can rival griffins.
“I do not come here by Mecmed, I came here alone with my own intentions.” Mellyruna says and out of reflex now his right hand drifts to the fang hanging around his neck.
“Oh, tell me then, isn’t it true that you were the one that killed Orisk the bear slayer, and the young lord of that castle. Didn’t Mecmed give you that land right after. And if your not hear by his order why did you come here accompanied by his serpent bitch” she growls turning away from his gaze. She must stay firm, she can’t allow herself to fall into that gaze and be manipulated by him. She must stay strong, for Griffin.
“Wow… Yes I killed Orisk the bear slayer, but he died for his beliefs, we should all be so lucky. As for the lord I did not kill him, he choose to end his own life, I mourn him still. Yes I was offered the land, but I have not yet accepted it and I am not sure I will. As for Neckity, I do not know much about her but from what I have seen and heard from her I think the term serpent bitch is a bit harsh. She is a kind and soft woman, inviting even, I have taken her as my advisor, I came with her cause she was the only one willing to tell me where you were” He says trying to answer all her questions hoping she will not become even more agitated with him, but he doubts it. Clearly she is protecting someone or something.
As she thinks about his answers he watches as she unwraps the wound, then takes the cloth off the cut. The stitching is perfect and he can tell that in a bit of time the scar will be faint. She then reaches near the corner of the tent to a bowl he didn’t realize was there. As she brings it close he can see that inside it is some kind of yellow salve. She dips her two index fingers into the salve and then begins to rub the wound gently. Her touch makes him close his eyes and relax, she has a healers touch, the only other one that he can think of that tended to his wounds like this was Rin. His mother too had a healer’s touch, a healer’s touch and a healer’s heart. She hated to see any of them wounded in any way; he remembers how she used to hum to them softly as she would take care of their wounds. At the end she would gently stroke their cheek and kiss them on the forehead asking them to be more careful. Usually it was he and Byrdi being taken care of from training. He wonders what it was like for her when she must have found Attonnan; he only shivers at the thought. But at least his suffering is over now, he has reached his Shangri-La
“Are you alright” The woman asks her voice loosing a bit of its edge to it.
“Just a memory” Mellyruna says his voice a bit distant now.
She only leaves it at that and finishes off rubbing the salve into the wound. Once she is finished the puts the cloth back over it and holding it in place she wraps the wound making sure that it is tight enough to hold it on, but loose enough that he can still bend and move around. As she looks back up at him she sees that his head is looking down, his fingers fumbling with the fang dangling at his chest. He stares at it as if it holds some kind of answer for him. She knows that many young men hold trophies of their first hunt, but this seems different. She wants to ask questions but quickly pushes it out of her mind. He is the enemy; he is the enemy until he proves otherwise. She doesn’t care what Griffin says, she can’t trust him.
“Well like Griffin said, two days, and then you can be on your way” she says standing up and turning her back to him.
“I thought I was accepted into the Wolfpride” Mellyruna says confused a bit
“Well that is up to you now isn’t it” She growls again. Now he understands, she wants him out, wants him away.
“You don’t like me do you” He says with a bit of a chuckle
“I wouldn’t go that far, I have to know you to make that kind of decision, and I have no intention of getting to know you. I don’t trust you” She says and opens the tent flap.
“Wait, before you go, I would like to know the name of the woman that helped me heal so that I may thank you properly” He says his voice soft, almost like a child.
“I am Lucrainzia Noin, second in command of the Wolfpride.” She says not even facing him and then walks out.
“Lucrainzia Noin, I’ll remember that name” he says and lies back down to rest, before he knows it he is fast asleep.
It is late in the evening when he wakes again; looking around he can see that no one is with him in the tent. Smiling at this he slowly gets up and with great care he gets dressed, it takes only two tries before he realizes that he will not be able to wear his armor, but is lucky enough to strap the sword across his back. He then walks out of his tent and finds that it is much later then he has thought. Everyone is in there tents and the fires are starting to dim down. This is his chance, he will go back to the castle and summon Neckity, he must talk to her, and he has to know all he can about this Griffin and why he is so drawn to him. Carefully he walks to the horses and silently walks one out of the camp. Once outside the camp he rides it but only gets as far as the hill overlooking the camp, On the hill is a cloaked figure, at first he thinks that it is Skorm, as he gets closer he sees that the form is far to small to be him. It must be her, Neckity. As he gets closer he brings the horse to a trot and then pulls it to the side of her horse. Once he is beside her she pulls her hood off and he smiles to see her warm and welcoming face.
“What are you doing her, how did you know that I would be calling on you?” He asks calmly but in his mind he knows how she knew, she is a seer.
“I had a feeling. You should thank me, I have covered your loose ends.” She says and looks him over. For a man who rode into the camp of the Wolfpride he is no worse for wear.
“What are you talking about” he says wondering what it is that he could have left undone.
“Well for one you are to be taking care of that land. Mecmed was asking quite the questions, as was Skorm. And I have found some information about your siblings” She says and watches his eyes light up with joy hearing about his brothers and sister.
“Tell me, what has become of them, are they all right, please tell me, I must know” he says eager and almost jumping out of his skin.
“Calm yourself, first thing first, your new territory. I have told Mecmed that you are with the Wolfpride for his interest. He accepted that, a little to easily if you ask me. I also told him that you have requested that I stay at your land in order to make sure it is run as you request. That is why I’m giving you this” She says and hands him a small whistle, the whistle looks like it is made out of some kind of bone.
Mellyruna looks at it for a moment and then looks back up at her in confusion. At first she is shocked. She can feel the confusion radiating off of him and she is a bit baffled that he doesn’t know what it is, but then she remember that she has been taught in these kind of arts since she was a child and not all elves have the benefit of her knowledge.
“It is a whistle that I can hear at any distance, it will help you summon me. When you blow it I will know that you need me and I will know where you are. Like Mecmed I have ways to travel distance quickly so I might appear a bit faster then you think. Do not call me into a battle though or I will be most upset with you, I am an advisor not a warrior” She says and smiles at him as he places the whistle in his pocket.
“I shall tie it to the necklace around my neck later. Next to the wolf fang, now tell me of my siblings.” He says shifting in
the saddle.
“They are not as bad off as you may have thought. Byrdi has been chosen to participate in the Edogi, it is a rite of passage to the Hitori clan. I will not lie to you, it takes years and in the end he may vary well die. But it he does live though it he will be one of them” She says and watches with her sight as he lowers his head.
“I know Byrdi, he will not fail, he is a great fighter and a spear in his hands is as good as death to his opponent.” he says and chuckles to himself.
“Well let us hope. Maeraer is well taken care of. I have learned that Noi has taken her in as a daughter. I did not know this but for some reasons unknown she is unable to have children. Lord Oda has also refused to have anyone else sire him a child. They have taken in your sister as their own and intend on giving her all the rites and privileges that they would there own. I can only assume that in time she will inherit the Oda clan. But I would not say yes or no to that just yet” She says and looks down stroking the neck of her horse now.
“And, Attonnan” He asks. He knows the answer, she will tell him that Attonnan is dead, but that is okay. Ever since his vision he has known this and he has come to terms with it. Besides Attonnan will never truly die, as long as he is alive, Attonnan will live in his mind, heart and actions. He has decided to become the king that his mother Rin knew he could become. With the Wolfpride’s help he can also become the man that so desperately seeks to jump out at him.
“Nothing is known. Mellyruna, you must understand Fuma is not called the demon king for no reason; his magic rivals any I have even heard about. Shadows and darkness conceal everything he does. I can’t even tell you if Attonnan is alive. I’m sorry” She says and reaches out to stoke his face.
“It’s okay, I know he’s gone and I’m okay with it. His suffering has finally ended” Mellyruna says and smiles at her.
“Are you, I’m not so sure” She says and quickly snaps upright in her saddle, how, how could he have concealed himself from her.
It is all to late that she feels the man approach, but it is someone she already knows is not a real threat, not unless he has changed his mind. It is the young man Griffin. She can see his form surrounded by a fire of silver light. Silver laced with black, an odd aura. She remembers when her first came to her, he was only a kid but already ambitious, he was the plaything of some lord and asked his fate.
“Griffin, it has been some time” She says a low growl coming from her.
She doesn’t like him, he reminds her too much of Mecmed. He is smooth and cunning and knows how to play the cards laid out before him. Unlike Mecmed he refuses to lie, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.
“I was wondering when you would come and talk to him. So what is it in him that has you so drawn” Griffin asks looking hard at Mellyruna now.
“She is my advisor, nothing more” Mellyruna says his voice soft and calm. Neckity only looks at him, he has no idea of the game being played right now and that he has a careful part to play.
“As he said, I am his advisor” she says carefully, matching wits with him is not something to be taken lightly.
“Oh I’m sure you are, but to what end. And will his end defeat mine” Griffin says and glances over at Mellyruna, still smiling.
“Mellyruna, will you please excuse us, I’m sure Griffin will be back at camp soon, and I will wait tell I am called when all this is done” Neckity says voice soft but with a firmness that even makes him shiver.
At first he only sits there, his horse not moving, he wanted to ask her some questions, questions about this young man. Now he’s worried, what end is Griffin working on and will it counter his. He feels so lost right now. But soon he does as he is told and rides back to the camp. As Mellyruna rides off Griffin and Neckity only stare at each other in silence, it is only when Neckity nods that the silence is broken. Mellyruna is far enough away now that he will hear nothing of what is to be said.
“So, who is this young prince and why do you walk at his side so carefully” Griffin says smiling at her.
“I walk at his side cause when the time comes he will walk at my side. My goal has been the same since long before you met me young prince Griffin” She says knowing of his history, how he was a prince that ran from his duties, from his people
“Will he walk at my side” Griffin asks looking back, he must know now. The Unagi are something not to be played with, if he must kill him to accomplish his goals then now would be the time. He’s not sure how Mecmed will take it, but he can guess that Mellyruna is not that close to him.
“Sadly he will walk at your side though hell itself, and in the end you will break his heart” she says and turns to ride away.
“I do not take stock in your prophecy” he says a slight chuckle in his voice
“If you do not take stock in it, then why do you ask for answers you will not believe in.” she says and with that rides away. She will go to Mellyruna’s land and rule it, as she knows he would want it taken care of. She till tells Mecmed that the orders came from Mellyruna himself and he will not question her.
Once she is gone Griffin rides back to the camp only to find that Mellyruna is waiting for him at the entrance. Smiling he bows to the young prince and knows that he will have to answer some questions, but he will not answer them all.
“What was all that about” Mellyruna asks calmly, he knows that Griffin was spying on him, or maybe he was just on duty and followed him. Either way he was doing the right thing as a leader.
“Neckity and I have an old acquaintanceship” Griffin says his voice mellow and shadowy
“How” Mellyruna asks, he must get to some kind of bottom to this. Is he to trust Griffin or Neckity, both seem to be guiding him in the right path, but which is leading him to there ends and not his.
“She advised me once” Griffin says calmly and dismounts his horse leading it to where they are tied
“And” Mellyruna continues, this is getting irritating, he shouldn’t have to ask the same questions over and over. Griffin by all rights should know what he wants to know and should just get to it.
“As I said, it was only once, and I did not care for what she had to say” Griffin says and keeps his back to Mellyruna.
With that one sentence Mellyruna’s mind is made up. He can tell by the tone of voice that she had used her gift of prophecy on him, and that she only told him the truth, weather he wanted to hear it or not. He now trusts Neckity, only a true advisor tell you what you don’t want to hear, and almost always for your benefit. Griffin stops when he hears Mellyruna’s steps walking away. Is that it, is he giving up the questioning that easily.
“Satisfied so soon are we” Griffin says his voice giving away his confusion.
“You have answered all I needed to know. You have told me that I can trust her” Mellyruna says a smile on his face as he turns back to Griffin
“I wouldn’t if I were you.” He says shaking his head.
“You said she advised you, but you didn’t like what she had to say, did she use her gift on you” He asks already knowing the answer
“Yes” Griffin says not sure where he is going with this.
“There you have it. She was your advisor so she did only what she thought was right. Just cause you didn’t like the answer doesn’t mean she is wrong or misleading you, on the contrary it means that she was trying to guide you properly, sometimes we just don’t like what we have to face to become better people” Mellyruna says and lets his mind drift to the day his mother took him for that ride and showed him how the clan was suffering. It hurt him, and Rin knew it would. She told him that she hated it, would have gladly kept it from him if she thought that was the right thing to do. But he had to see the people suffer so that he would be a better king then his father. He never liked the answer or the lesson, but his mother has never leaded him wrong. It seems Neckity was only doing t
he same for Griffin; he just didn’t pay attention was all. This doesn’t make him a bad guy by any means, but he will have to keep an eye on him and hope that his ignorance in some of these matters doesn’t get them in trouble.