“We are near the capital. Once we finish our business there, we shall march toward Farlan,” Thad said hopefully.
“I don’t think you will find whatever you plan to accomplish there an easy task, not with over eight thousand soldiers breathing down your back,” Maria replied mournfully.
Thad understood her trepidation. His blood had ran cold when she had mentioned the size of the force now retuning right where he was headed, but even on a fast horse it was easily eight days to the border. A battle weary forced march would take an army that size near a score of days before they could reach the capital. Thad and his group were only a few days march from the capital and that gave them plenty of time to get in and out, hopefully.
Thad’s silence didn’t help Maria’s mood as large tears began to well in her eyes. Thad pulled her close to him though he was unsure why he felt he needed to comfort her. Where women were concerned, Thad no longer knew if he did it out of his own desire or because of the values instilled into him as a child. In the end Thad decided it didn’t matter at this point in time. Maria had always been a friend to him, even if she was a bit overbearing at times.
“I will be home before you know it,” Thad said gently into Maria’s ear.
Wiping the tears from her face Maria pulled back from Thad. “See that you do. I nearly had to chain that short friend of yours to the wall when he learned you were in Rane,” Maria added, laughing lightly.
“Tell Crusher to behave himself. Not even that hardhead could make it through an army that size to reach me,” Thad replied, shaking his head.
“If I don’t hear that you are on your way back soon I have a mind to let him try,” Mara countered, the stern expression returning to her face.
Looking at her in the waning moonlight Thad had to admit that she looked much better with her face slightly pinched scowling at him than she did crying. “This is the longest I think I have talked to you during one of our visits,” Thad mused.
“”It is not easy and it leaves me drained but the closer you are I think the lighter the toll on me becomes,” Maria said, beaming happily. “Not to mention you haven’t upset me enough tonight to boot you out of my dream…Yet.”
Thad laughed at her mention of booting him out of her dream. It wasn’t that he thought she wouldn’t do it but the sheer idea of the little girl he remembered physically booting anyone seemed ludicrous to him. “I will remember that my princess,” Thad said, laughing.
“Don’t you princess me. Am a full Queen now,” Maria said defiantly then her face took on an abject sadness.
At the mention of the queen Thad faintly remember Maria crying during one of their shorter visits about her mother being dead. Thad was still unsure what had happened while he was gone and dared not tread that ground when he was unable to see Maria face to face. He had many question but none of them pressing so he let them go and pulled Maria into another strong embrace.
Thad could once again feel the murky blackness roll around him as the connection between him and Maria was being severed. He still wasn’t sure how she was able to pull him into her dreams, but he believed that she might be an internal mage. The book he had mentioned them though mostly only in passing. Unlike external mages there powers could only affect themselves for the most part and each internal mage's power varied greatly. It wasn’t a great answer to the question but it was a start, and you had to start somewhere.
CHAPTER XVIII
The next few days the small group of elves forced marched toward the capital, only stopping to sleep. The hunters would go out at night and try and scare up any game they could find but things were beginning to get scarce. After the second day out the scouts reported that even with a spyglass they couldn’t spot the Brotherhood soldiers anymore. Knowing that the large Army of Brotherhood soldiers were no longer right on their tail let Thad breathe a little easier.
They had fared well in their battles against a much larger opponent but they had not had to face them in an open field. Every battle they had fought had been of their own choosing; giving them not only the element of surprise but also a measure of control over the overall flow of the battle.
They were nearing the capital now only a little more than a day out. Thad was more than a little surprised that they had not encountered even a token force. Rane must have had the bulk of their troops in Farlan and once they had passed the few left within Rane, they had free reign. It wouldn’t last forever but Thad hoped it lasted long enough for him to finish his dark business.
Even if he was unable to finish his work Thad’s mind told him that they needed to be on their way within twelve days. The large force following them would catch up in no more than four days. They weren’t the real problem, it was the eight thousand that now marched back home from Farlan. If they waited too long it would be impossible to make it home alive.
How do expect to get past the eight thousand soldiers to reach Farlan? It’s not as if they will just stand aside and let you pass.
“We will just have to be careful and move as fast as we can once we head out. If we can stay ahead of the messengers then maybe we can move around them before they know we have left the capital,” Thad replied, more than a little unsure of himself.
I wish you would give up this fool’s errand and head for Farlan now, but I don’t see that happening. The fact that it hasn’t even crossed your mind does worry me more than a little.
Thad didn’t have a response for his staff and he didn’t think he needed one. He knew that the whole mission was not something a sane man would embark upon. He wanted to live long enough to see Farlan again but a part of him, a large part, still wanted the blood of those responsible for Brianna’s death. Though it wasn’t as frequent he still saw the light fading from her eyes in his dreams.
“Master Thad, there is a rather large mansion ahead of us,” one of Parson’s scouts reported to him. “Master Parson would like for us to check it out.”
“Tell Parson we should all go see this mansion of his. It’s about time we found a place to settle down now that we are only a stone throw away from the capital,” Thad replied, eager to have any reason to get a break from marching.
The scout disappeared back into the throng of other elves. Thad didn’t know if Parson would agree with him but he could hope. When the entire column of elves changed direction slightly Thad felt a sense of relief and excitement run through his body at the same time.
The mansion the scout had reported looked more like a miniature castle to Thad’s eyes. It was large enough to fit their whole force with more than a little room to spare but it did lack some of the more prominent features a proper castle would have as far as defenses went. There was no gate or drawbridge only an open arch welcoming anyone who wished to enter. While it had a moat it looked too thin and shallow to offer any real threat to someone trying to scale the walls.
When they drew closer it became more obvious the manor had been built to display wealth, not to keep out those who might wish it for themselves. A horde of servants and a handful of armed guards gathered in the courtyard to look upon their visitors.
Thad had the other elves hold back as he and Reeve steeped forward to talk with whoever was in charge. As soon as they neared a man in his early forties wearing a silk doublet of dark purple and leather trouser dyed nearly midnight black shouted for them to halt. “Why have you come to my home uninvited?” the man asked indignantly.
“We have come to see if your home would suit our needs,” Thad replied almost blandly. The manor wasn’t the fort Thad had hoped for but he doubted they would find something more suitable before they reached the capital. “You and the servants may host us but I must insist that your men at arms depart.”
“I think not. You will leave my estate this instant,” the man howled, his face turning a deep scarlet. On his command the handful of guards unsheathed their swords and looked around at the large group in front of them nervously.
“Draw,” Thad yelled, and the air was filled with
the sound of steel leaving scabbard. Not wanting to kill without need Thad looked around for whoever might be in command of the men at arms. A few of the guards stood out as more experienced than the others but Thad couldn’t decide which one to address so he decided on letting them choose. “Captain, there is no reason you and your men must die here. We have a larger and a better trained force. Anyone who chooses to walk out the gate will be left alone. Those who choose to stay will receive no quarter.”
The men at arms looked to each other for support but it didn’t take long for the first man to lay down his sword and walk out the gate. As the first man left it was as if a dam burst and the other dozen soon followed suit, much to the dismay of the landowner, who continued to yell at them.
“Now that the pleasantries are over, why don’t we go inside?” Thad more stated then asked.
“I will not have you and your filth within my halls while I still live,” the man yelled, his voice raspy and horse.
Thad looked over to Reeve who gave him a cold smile. “Do you want me to deal with the fool, or would you like the honor?” Reeve asked as he rapped the tips of his fingers over the hilt of his dagger.
Thad didn’t want to kill the man for simply defending his home no matter how much of a fool he was. Lifting his staff, Thad began to gather the magical energies around him and bending them to his will. Within the span of a heartbeat the vines that clung to the stone walls shot out and tangled around the man’s feet then moved up to bind the entirety of his body.
The whole time the vines moved over the man’s body he continued to shout insults and commands at Thad and the elves but they paid little heed. While the magical vines seemed not to change the demeanor of the man, the servants who were gathered look on in sheer terror.
“Reeve if you would be so kind as to find a nice place to keep our friend here comfortable I would be most happy,” Thad said nearly laughing at the vine covered man who still glared at them vulgarly.
The inside of the manor was much nicer than Thad had expected. The foyer had high vaulted ceilings that were richly decorated. Large crystal chandeliers hung down illuminating the room in a soft yellow glow. Thad grabbed one of the servants that had shuffled back in though from the looks more than a few had taken the chance to dart for the gate after the guards. “Can you show me to a suitable room?”
“Yes M'Lord,” the man said, his face blanching noticeably.
The servant led Thad to what he assumed was the master's quarters. It was a richly furnished room with a large four posted bed covered in layers of exquisite silk. The bed looked inviting but Thad had other things on his mind. The manor and courtyard were more than large enough to accommodate them even if it was a bit crowded. The main problem was the place was nearly impossible to defend as it was.
The manor was a bustle of activity as the elves each tried to find a place of their own some even choosing to sleep outside under the stars. After nearly half an hour of searching Thad was able to collect Reeve and Parson and pull them outside.
“What is this about?” Reeve asked though not unkindly.
“We need to find ways to make this place more defensible,” Thad replied his face lined with worry. “The Brotherhood soldiers will be on us in a matter of days. As it stands, this place would be ill suited to defend.”
Reeve looked around at the thin walls and frowned. “I see your point.”
“First we will need wood for a proper gate, and I am sure you can all think of a number of different things that might be of use,” Thad said, trying to think of anything that might make the place safer. “The capital is just under a day’s ride away and I would like to leave as soon as possible but I will not before I know everyone is as safe as possible here.”
“You plan to go alone?” Parson asked, his face lined with concern.
“A large force would only draw unneeded attention. With everyone here the Brotherhood will most likely not look too hard closer to home though I could be wrong. The news I have received puts the bulk of the Rane forces retuning within a span of days,” Thad said before pausing and taking a deep breath. “If I do not return within half that time you are to take everyone and march west to Farlan.”
“I can understand the need to go undetected in the capital. I wish I could go with you but I believe even one of our kind would defeat your efforts,” Parson replied, his voice heavy. “I will send out every spare elf to gather supplies from wherever they may be found. We will have the manor as solid as any fort by nightfall tomorrow.”
Thad was glad to hear that his departure wouldn’t be delayed for too long. Looking back at his companions Thad knew he would miss them. He would even miss Reeve’s cold stare.
Even though night was fast approaching no one was preparing for sleep. The manor was bustling with activity as the elves looked for anything that could be of use. About an hour after the sun had set a small band of elves returned from an outing carrying long sturdy logs with them. The few they had wouldn’t cover the entirety of the portal but it was a start.
By early morning the elves had enough wood to start lashing them together. As the elves worked securing the logs to one another, Thad hunched over them weaving his magic strengthening them and doing everything in his power to make sure that nothing short of an earthquake could damage them.
Besides the gate Thad had also started working on something for the walls. He was short on time so instead of making a mock effort on a few of the stones Thad started on an enchanted item. It worked much the same way the ones he had made for the sticks and vines had. It wasn’t a perfect solution but it would allow the elves to continue to strengthen the walls long after he departed.
When Thad had made an offhand remark about wishing he had some glass orbs Tuck ran off and returned with an elf who had been an artisan on the elven island. With a little effort they had a makeshift forge and the elf began to melt down anything he could find to make the glass orbs. Thad was already tired long before the sun had reached the apex in the sky but he pushed on making two enchanted disks to charge the orbs before he fell asleep.
Having fallen asleep early the night before Thad woke well before the sun had graced the sky. He was amazed to find the elves still hard at work. Looking around it was not difficult to see that the fatigue from the past few days was beginning to bear down on them, but they continued to push on with their tasks knowing their very lives might hang in the balance.
Thad feared for the elves that he had come to call his friends. They had left the security of their homeland to aid him and now he was leaving them behind to pursue his own vendetta. As much as that thought pained him it did nothing to sway his need or want to leave. He took a small comfort in the fact that the manor had an abundance of food as well as a large garden. As long as the reinforcements returning from Farlan didn’t arrive before expected, the elves should fare well. It was all still hanging on the winds of fate but Thad hoped the dice would land in their favor.
“You are leaving today?” Tuck asked, coming up behind Thad making him jump slightly in surprise.
Thad turned to the young elf and gave him a warm smile. Unlike the dwarves, the elves were surprisingly different from each other. If he had to liken them to anything it would be leaves on a tree. They all belonged to the same tree but there was a distance between them and when the wind blew they all danced to it in their own way. Tuck was still a young leaf unsure of how he should catch the wind and often tried to mimic those around him. Thad was sure given time he would find his own pattern. He just hoped that he would be given that time.
“Yes,” Thad replied desolately.
Nothing else was said between the two friends as they stood in the courtyard. Thad knew he would miss their nightly talks and the young elf’s witty banter. Thanks to Tuck, Thad had learned a lot about the elves during their journey. Most of it was useless information but it made Thad fell closer to the people traveling with him.
Thad left his friend without saying goodbye as he walked toward
the stables hoping that when everything was finished he would see the young elf again.
The lord of the manor, who now lay tied up in one of the storage cellars, had flaunted his wealth on many extravagances, including a fine stable of well-bred horses. As he neared one of the horses, a dusty brown gelding with a single white spot on his lower back, Thad touched the earring that hung in his right ear. “How fast are you?” Thad asked out loud still unsure how the enchanted item worked.
The horse tilted its head slightly and looked at Thad curiously. “I am as fast as I need to be,” the horse's voice resounded in his ears, ire evident at the implied insult.
Thad couldn’t help but laugh. He had never talked to animals before. On many occasions he had wished to know what Avalanche had been thinking but all he could do was guess. The horse seemed proud and regal but Eloen had once told him that horses were the proudest of any animal. “I think we will get along just fine,” Thad said, patting the horse fondly on its neck. “Do you happen to have a name?”
“I am called Brandinsaterabheaere,” the horse replied with more than a hint of pride in its voice.
Thad tried to say the name and failed miserably much to the horse’s displeasure. “It seems that your name is too grand for my simple mind to comprehend,” Thad said hoping that a horse was not beyond a little flattery. “Would it give offence if I shortened it to Brand?”
Thad could have sworn that the horse rolled his eyes at him. “If that is the best you can do, then it will have to suffice,” the horse replied sounding insulted.
You have picked a fine steed. He will make for fine company along the road. Thuraman said, its tone nearly laughing.
Thad didn’t know if he should laugh or cry, but he was sure that with these two as companions he would be anything but bored.
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