Elf Lords: 02 - Last of the Elf Lords

by Richard Saunders

  McRawl snorted, “If they are in the Tilsaw, then we may never find them. Fortunately, they may never find their way out either.”

  “It would not be fortunate to lose the Sword of Alexon.” Trian disagreed.

  “No, I guess it would not.”

  Trian looked off into the distance. “I have patrolled the area myself to no avail. I believe that our only chance of finding them is to go into the forest.”

  McRawl shook his head, “My lord, the Tilsaw is vast, and many believe it to be magical. Perhaps that is why even you cannot track them in there. If that is the case, then it would be nearly impossible to anticipate where they might be in that forest.”

  “Impossible for most,” Trian agreed, “but the wizard has located skilled hunters that can assist us.”

  “Hunters?” McRawl asked.

  “Trolls.”

  McRawl’s eyes widened, “I did not believe that trolls really existed.”

  “Oh, they do exist, but they are very rare. The wizard was able to locate some, and recruited them into our service.”

  McRawl was confused, “Your wizard can locate trolls without leaving his lair? That is impressive, and even more so that he can put them under his control. How can he accomplish such a thing?”

  “The wizard has special abilities, even for a magic user.” Trian explained.

  The Warlord whistled. Hearing something behind him, McRawl turned to see three figures approaching out of the darkness. He reached for his sword at the sight of the seven foot tall monstrosities being led by a nervous soldier. The beasts had muscular, apelike limbs, with leathery grey skin and scraggly patches of fur across their backs, legs and feet. Their eyes were large and black. They bared their sharpened teeth as they looked about. “What in the abyss?”

  “These did not come from the abyss, Captain. These are what the ancient elves called Shin-La. They are more commonly called trolls, but I prefer their original name. Shin-La were used in ancient times to serve the Dragon Lords. In addition to other skills, they are merciless hunters who can run for days—even weeks—without the need for rest. They served quite well as a deterrent to rebellion in the ancient world. If the wizard can locate more of them, we can use them as a powerful army against our enemies.”

  “You plan to send three trolls after Landis and his trained men?” McRawl questioned the Warlord.

  “Do not underestimate them. Trolls—if you must continue to call them that—are very difficult to kill. They can survive sword strikes, arrows, even magical attacks, and continue. Oh, they can be destroyed; it is just difficult to do. Once on someone’s trail, they will not stop. I cannot think of a better way to hunt the half-elf.”

  “How will you get them there?”

  “I will take them myself,” Trian explained.

  “What are your orders while you are gone?” McRawl asked.

  “You are to prepare for the arrival of Kadoola. Go to the wizard, he has another Shin-La that will be yours to command. He will also provide you with a chameleon charm. Take the archer that you have selected and have him wear it. The charm has been set to make him appear to anyone who sees him to be Landis. Give him these.” Trian handed the captain a pair of green fletched arrows. “These are two of the three arrows that were used upon me when I was disguised as the princess. I want the archer to be seen as he fires upon Kadoola. This way, we can shift the blame on Alexon. When I deliver Landis’ head to the Supreme Commander while he is meeting with Kadoola’s lieutenants—and hand him the Sword of Alexon—they will be convinced to unite under the Lardashen banner.

  “Oh, and once Kadoola is dead, kill the archer. We cannot afford to have him wagging his tongue to anyone.”

  Trian spoke to the soldier escorting the trolls. “You may leave.”

  The soldier wasted no time in obeying the Warlord’s order. Once he was gone Trian stepped into the middle of the open courtyard. “Captain, since you have already suspected the truth, I believe that it is time to share my secret with you.”

  McRawl watched as the Warlord’s face grimaced in pain. Trian’s body began to shake, then it blurred. McRawl felt fear growing in the pit of his stomach as he watched the air all around the Warlord become hazy and indistinct. Trian’s body began to expand. His clothing vanished; his skin became dark and scaly. He dropped to his hands and knees as he grew into something very large. Trian was becoming a black dragon.

  “Oh that feels so much better.” The dragon spoke with Trian’s voice. “Much less confining than mortal flesh and bone.”

  McRawl said nothing.

  The dragon knelt down. “Climb aboard me, my children.”

  The three trolls silently climbed up onto the dragon’s back. The dragon flapped his mighty black wings and lifted off the ground. McRawl stood in bewildered silence, watching as the dragon flew off into the night sky.

  Chapter Sixteen

  McRawl entered the dungy lair of the wizard. If there was anyone he did not want to go near any more than Trian, it was Kataard. The elf wizard was frightening looking to the captain. His disfigured, pasty white skin and shaggy black hair were unnerving enough, but Kataard’s red tinted eyes peered right through you. Even that was something that McRawl could learn to deal with. What disturbed the captain most of all was Kataard’s forked tongue and enchanted speech. McRawl did not know if the elf was born with the snake-like tongue, or if that had been the result of something later in life. It did not matter, for he dared not ever speak of it. Kataard’s speech—be it the result of his tongue or some other defect—was nearly unintelligible. The wizard spoke with a slithering, serpentine voice that sent chills down McRawl’s spine. Kataard had a familiar: a rook that would mimic Kataard’s distorted speech with high-pitched repetitions of its master’s comments. McRawl disliked the bird almost as much as the wizard.

  “Welcome.” Kataard grunted.

  “Welcome, welcome.” The rook repeated.

  The elf motioned for McRawl to enter his study. The wizard wore a red cloak. On his left shoulder perched the rook. The bird’s black feathers showed a bluish sheen in the reflection of the torchlight from the wall sconces. Its grey-black bill stood out in the darkness.

  “You have come for the Shin-La and the chameleon charm.” Kataard stated.

  The bird echoed the words “Shin-La” and “charm” several times. McRawl tried to ignore the conflicting sounds as he concentrated on what Kataard said. “Yes.”

  Kataard withdrew a gold chain from within his cloak. Dangling from the chain was a green gem. He handed it to the captain. “I expect it to be returned after you have finished. The Shin-La is being brought down now. You will need to learn how to control it.”

  McRawl nodded his understanding as he looked about the room.

  “Is there something else that you seek?” Kataard asked.

  McRawl forced himself to look at the elf. “No, I was just…”

  “I know that it can be difficult visiting with me, but do not avert your eyes when I speak.” The wizard commanded.

  McRawl held his tongue. He was not accustomed to being spoken to in this way. Even the Warlord showed him respect. Still, he was not about to do or say anything to offend the wizard further. McRawl had no doubt that if Trian had to choose between one of them, the Warlord would choose his trusted wizard.

  “I rescued Trian.” The elf spoke, as if he was reading McRawl’s mind. “I discovered his hibernating form and brought him back to life. We have been together for a long time, with one common goal, to seek vengeance upon the traitorous Elf Lord.”

  When will the troll get here? McRawl thought. He had no desire to listen to the wizard’s reminiscing any longer than necessary.

  “Trian is the descendant of one of the original Dragon Lords. Thousands of years ago, while you humans were still learning speech, and the elves ruled the world, the Dragons came and went through the four Dragon Gates from their world to ours. It was the dragons who gifted the world with magic, through the four Elf Lords. Afte
r all that the dragons did, the elves rebelled. They permitted the Elf Lords to close the gates and forced the Dragon Lords into a magical hibernation. Then they hunted the sleeping dragons and put them to death. It was a crime of genocide.

  “Only a few dragons survived; they are all but extinct. Imagine my astonishment when I located the stony form of the dragon you know as Trian, hidden deep in a mountainside. Through him the Dragon Lords will be restored, and I will regain my proper position in their order.

  “Did you know that Trian has discovered two dragon eggs? We are trying to see if we can revitalize them and hatch them.” Kataard stopped. “Perhaps I talk too much. You must forgive me, but I do not have the opportunity to communicate with others very often.”

  There was a knock at the door in the rear of the study.

  “There it is now.” Kataard declared, as he rushed to the door.

  Thank the gods. McRawl thought.

  “The gods have nothing to do with it.”

  McRawl jumped at the sudden revelation that Kataard had read his thoughts. The rook flew past the captain’s face, causing McRawl to step backwards in alarm.

  A man in a grey cloak stood in the doorway; behind him stood a troll. The rook flew past McRawl to land on the elf’s left shoulder.

  “How do I manage it?” McRawl asked, worried about the danger of trying to control such a creature.

  “Give me your left hand.” The wizard instructed.

  McRawl cautiously raised his left hand as the elf came to him. He watched as Kataard removed a dagger and brought it to his palm.

  “This might sting just a bit.” Kataard said, as he dragged the blade across McRawl’s open hand.

  The troll perked up as the scent of blood reached its ultra sensitive nostrils. Kataard dabbed his forefinger into the small amount of blood that was forming in McRawl’s hand then walked over to the troll. He touched the creature’s lips with his finger. “There, he will now recognize your scent, and will be yours to control until you repeat the same action to turn him over to someone else. No matter what, this troll will never harm you in any way. The same is not true for those who cross its path once you have sent it to hunt. It will kill anything in its path to reach its target.”

  “How do I instruct it to go after Kadoola?” McRawl asked.

  “Shin-La are not imbeciles; merely mindless. They do not have the faculties to think as you do, but when you give it simple instructions, it will understand and obey. I have trained it to understand common tongue.”

  “Sounds simple enough.”

  The wizard smiled. In doing so, he revealed his serpent-like tongue. “Very simple indeed, just think of the possibilities, once I have an army of trolls to send after our enemies.”

  “I can only imagine.” McRawl shuddered.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The night was long. Despite the knowledge that someone, or something, was observing them from a distance, the companions managed to drift off to sleep when not on watch. It was difficult, but when nothing had happened after three hours of lying around in the darkness, they began to feel more secure, even though Jaylen was still convinced that someone was still out there. As the sunlight began to break through the canopy of leaves overhead, all six men were on their feet and breaking camp. Jaylen and Landis walked around the area, trying to search for clues as to who may have been watching them. They found nothing.

  “So much for a good night’s rest.” Weslocke snapped.

  Trevor called for Jaylen and Landis. “I understand that it was dark when we rode in here last night, but can you tell me which direction we came from?”

  Jaylen pointed behind the Swordmaster. “That way.”

  “Really,” Trevor replied, “then can you tell me why there is no sign of our coming in that way. It looks as if we rode in from this direction.” He pointed in the opposite way.

  Jaylen looked at the broken twigs and other markings of passage through the forest. “I would have sworn that we came in from the other direction.”

  “Me too,” Trevor agreed, “but I see nothing to indicate that five horses came through over there.”

  “This place is getting creepy.” Jordan offered.

  Natis knelt by the trail that appeared to have been made by the horses. “Magic.”

  “Are you sure, Nate?” Landis asked.

  “Not exactly, it is not what I would expect, but there is the feeling of magic present. Perhaps it is in the forest itself.”

  “Whatever it is, I do not think that we should go riding that way,” Trevor suggested, “it appears that the very forest itself is trying to trap us.”

  Landis nodded, “Agreed. From the sunlight, I can tell you for certain that we came from the other direction. We should just ride back that way and ignore this trail.”

  Jaylen looked about. “I don’t know. If whoever was watching us last night is powerful enough to move our path, then we may not be able to trust anything we see in here, including the direction of the sunlight.”

  “Bah, this is ridiculous.” Weslocke spat. “I’ll clear a path back the way we came.”

  The dwarf hoisted his battle axe and marched to the spot that they were all certain they had ridden in from. He swung the axe into the brush, cutting a wide path before stepping forward and repeating the action. “Maybe the real path is only a few feet in here!”

  After his third cutting, Weslocke detected something to his right. He turned in time to see the blackened face of a giant wolf’s head protruding from the brush. The creature growled softly at the old dwarf.

  “Son-of-a-troll!” Weslocke bellowed, as he jumped back, readying his axe to strike the beast.

  Landis swung his bow about and reached for an arrow.

  “Kill my hound and you will all die!” A female voice promised.

  A female dressed in green breeches and a black shirt, with a dark green cloak draped across her back, rode out of the trees on a chestnut colored horse. Her narrow face and slightly pointed ears made it simple for all to recognize her as a half-elf. Her long, brown hair was tied back into a ponytail. She held her bow ready, with an arrow notched and aimed at Landis.

  “A Ranger?” Landis commented, as he lowered his bow.

  “Indeed.” The female replied, repeating Landis’ actions with her bow.

  “Of Delowe’ descent?” Landis continued.

  “On my mother’s side, my human father was an escaped slave who had taken refuge in my mother’s village. He died while I was still an infant.”

  Landis dropped the subject.

  “Would you mind calling off this monster before it tries to turn me into breakfast?” Weslocke requested of the Ranger.

  The half-elf female chuckled, “Shadow, come over here.”

  The animal hurried over to stand beside the Ranger’s horse.

  Jaylen whistled, “An Elven-Wolf-Hound; I have not seen one of those in over two centuries.”

  “Were you the one spying on us last night?” Landis asked the female half-elf.

  “No, but my friends kept watch over you until I could arrive. Your venture into Tilsaw Forest has made my task much easier to find you.”

  The companions became concerned. “Why are you seeking us?” Landis asked.

  “To keep you from coming to harm, and to take you to the princess.” She responded.

  “Forgive us if we are not very trusting, but we have had others try to trick us already.” Landis offered. “How can we trust you?”

  The Ranger smiled, “I am a Ranger, sworn to protect the forest, and those who call it home. My name is Tessa, and I was sent to find you by a mutual friend: Seebaul.”

  “The Elf Lord?” Jaylen asked.

  “None other.” Tessa remarked.

  Landis was not so easily swayed, “That is a good name to use, but how do we know for certain that you truly have been sent by Seebaul.”

  Tessa pointed to the woods around them. Three petite—fairy-like—females stepped from behind trees. “Behold the drya
ds; creatures created by the Elf Lord Seebaul. They kept watch over you this past night, and it was they who sent for me. If you choose to believe that perhaps the dryads do not serve their Elf Lord Master, then maybe this will convince you; I recognized you, Landis, by the description given to me many years ago by another mutual friend, Katryn.”

  “You know Katryn?” Landis felt his heart skip a beat at the mention of the woman he had searched for after she vanished with the Elf Lord, following their victory in Sedau over the traitors who had stolen the Pearls of the Elf Lords. “Where is she?”

  “Come with me to meet with Seebaul and he will answer your questions.” Tessa pointed to Natis, “Although he may not be received with a warm welcome.”

  Weslocke chuckled, “I share your feelings, lassie, but I can assure you that he is one of the good ones.”

  Natis smirked, “What a reassuring approval.”

  “Maybe so,” Tessa responded, “but wizards are not welcomed at the sanctuary. The children are frightened of them.”

  “Smart kids.” Weslocke commented.

  “Seebaul is a magic user.” Landis remarked.

  “But not a wizard; especially not one from the Tower of the Magi.”

  “Aside from tales told to frighten children, why would there be any concern?” Jordan asked.

  “Wizards from the tower have been known to steal children away from their families.” Tessa accused.

  Jordan was appalled, “Wizards are kidnapping children?”

  Tessa frowned, “Since the waning began two decades ago, the Tower’s numbers have been dwindling. About a dozen years ago they began bribing slavers to test the children they have taken, to see if any of them exhibited signs of magical abilities. Those children are sent to the Tower. To save on paying the slavers guild, they have taken to sending out seekers of their own. Sometimes they buy children from their families. There are also rumors that when families are not willing to send—or sell—their children to the Tower, that those children vanish during the night.”