by J Battle
‘Not here; we don’t want to be overheard,’ hissed Elstar, glancing from left to right, and over both shoulders.
‘Where then, brave little elf?’
‘We should retire to your chambers.’
‘How very forward of you, Elstar. I’m flattered, of course I am, but I thought your tastes were otherwise. Have you tired of your soft and malleable humans?’
‘I believe I would rather chew off my genitals than let them come into contact with your cold and wizened flesh.’
‘Elstar, you do know how to charm your way into a lady’s bedchamber.’
'I have news,' he said bluntly, his glowing blue eyes holding hers.
'Well then, follow me, and beware that your lusts do not overcome you.' She tossed all that remained of her once beautiful tresses over her shoulder, and sauntered off.
Elstar spun around, checking the shadows for sneaky witnesses, before he followed her.
He found her draped over her bed, bony and wrinkled against the elegant silk.
'Be gentle, kind sir,' she said, her voice light and delicate, 'do not rush, but take your time with my virgin flesh.'
'Stop this nonsense! We have serious and monumental things to consider.'
She sighed and sat upright, pulling her whitefox fur cloak about her.
'Go on, then, Elstar, tell me what new Magic you have discovered. Is it a new mushroom that allows you to fly? Or, perhaps it is a new potion that will smooth my skin, and renew my hair?'
Elstar ground his teeth together and glared at her.
'Mock me if you will, but I have found it, after all this time. After decades and decades of search. It is so close. Soon you will be as beautiful as you were, and I as handsome. For I have found the Wellstone, and we shall be renewed.'
She sighed again, and shook her head. 'Again, Elstar? Must we go through this all again?'
'It is not a rumor this time, Blodnes, or a complex interpretation of unconnected signs. This time I stood before him, and the power of the Wellstone was used against me, and I was defeated.'
Blodnes sat up a little straighter. 'Vanquished? By a man? How can that be, Elstar? Have you grown so weak?'
'Vanquished by a man? Yes, indeed; but a man with the Magic of the Wellstone in his hands.'
Blodnes reached out and her talon-like fingers griped his arm. 'Did you see it, Elstar? The Wellstone. Did you see it?' Her beautiful blue eyes were afire with passion.
'I did not see it myself, but it can be nothing else. With one blow I was knocked to the ground; by a man. That in itself is proof enough. But there is also a burning beacon, and the valley is hidden behind a mist that the eye fails to see. It is there, Blodnes, and all we have to do is reach out and take it into our hands, and we shall be wonderful once more.'
'We must act at once,' said Blodnes, now full of eagerness and her doubt all forgotten.
'Yes, we must. But we will keep it to ourselves for now. You must gather together an Elvenswarm, in hushed and quiet whispers. We'll need twenty I think, to be sure that we will overcome all resistance. Can you find them for me, Blodnes? Crawlords only; we don't want any more senior folk to know. Not yet; not until it is too late and we burst back into Fellstone and wash them from their thrones.'
'And will you be the new Elflord?' asked Blodnes, her eyes aglow.
'You said the words first, my dear, and how can I turn away from the responsibility to lead my people into this new era?'
Blodnes bowed before him. 'Hail Elflord Elstar, of Sun and Moon and Seven Stars; the last of the elflords.'
Elstar smiled down at her. He liked the sound of that; yes indeed.
Chapter 31 Giants
'Well now, Raarvan, what be this?'
The pair of old friends stopped in the middle of the road.
'Well, I think that be a wall, and that's a gate, and that little fellow, he's a guard.'
'What does a guard do?'
'Well, he guards things, don't he? And he stops people from going through that there gate.'
'How does he do that?'
'You see that stick he's got in his little hand? With the pointy end? That there's a spear. I seen ‘em before, I have.'
'So, how does he stop us coming in with his spear?' Aarvarn rubbed his belly as he spoke.
'I think he plans to stick it in us, like so.' Raarvan pantomimed a jabbing action with his hand.
Aarvarn considered that for a moment.
'Is it meant to hurt us?'
'I don't see hows it could, but, shall we see?'
'I'm hungry as a hungry Giant, and there's food and ale I reckon on other side of that wall, so come on. I've got an itch on me back; do you think he'd stick his spear in it, if I asked nicely?'
They lumbered forward and found the way blocked by a man with a spear, a cloak, and a grim expression.
'Halt there, strangers,' he said firmly, gripping his spear in both hands.
'That means 'stop' in human,' said Raarvan.
The Giants came to a halt before the guard.
'What now?' asked Aarvarn, of his friend.
'Any minute now he'll stick us with his spear, see if he don't.'
'What business do you have in Hesselton?' shouted the guard.
'What does he mean?' Aarvarn was rubbing his belly again; a sure sign that a good meal was required very soon.
'Not sure. Wave your fist at him and see if he sticks you.'
Aarvarn did as he was told and waved his great fist in the general direction of the guard, knocking the poor fellow head over feet through the gateway.
'Now look what you've done!' scolded Raarvan.
'I didn't mean to hit him; he was closer than I thought.'
‘You’ve probably kilt him now.’
‘No! He only bounced a little, he did.’
‘They’re really easy to kill, them humans; you hardly need to touch them at all.’
As the gateway was too narrow for them to walk through together, there was quite a long discussion to decide who should go first, and who should go last.
In the end, it was decided in the ancient Giantish tradition of banging heads together until one of them saw double. The one with clear vision allowed the other to pass through first.
‘I’m sure your head is made of rock,’ grunted Raarvan as he felt his way through the gateway.
‘And yours is full of rocks if you think you can bang heads with me,’ laughed Aarvarn as he followed him.
The guard was sitting in the dirt by the side of the road, favoring his left arm.
‘See, I knew he’d be alright,’ said Aarvarn, with one hand on his belly and the other reaching behind to scratch his back.
He bent over the guard and prodded him with one finger, sending him sprawling.
‘We want food, and we want ale,’ he said, then he turned to Raarvan. ‘Is that all? I thought we wanted something else, but I can’t think on it.’
‘No, ’less you want somewhere to sit. That’d be nice, I think.’
‘Somewhere to sit? What’s wrong with the ground? I been sitting on the ground all my life, and it ain’t done me no harm.’
‘Well, you have got a big flat arse,’ said Raarvan as he bumped shoulders. ‘Cushions! That’s what we wants. Tell him to get cushions as well.’
Aarvarn turned back to the guard and gave him his instructions.
‘He ain’t moving much.’ he said as he prodded the prostrate guard.
‘Leave him be, he’s taking a nap, or something. See them humans over there, hiding behind that there wall. Call them over and tell em what we want.’
‘Hey! You humans there, come over to here,’ Aarvarn shouted, in his most persuasive tone.
The humans promptly disappeared.
‘Now what do we do?’ asked Aarvarn, both hands on his stomach, ’this town looks like a big place. Where are we going to find food and ale? And cushions?’
‘I know what we’ll do. We’ll walk into the center of the town and call for the Mayor, and
he’ll make em give us food and ale. And cushions.’
‘What’s a Mayor?’
‘He’s the boss-man and they have to do what he says, ‘cause he’s the boss.’
They left the guard to his dreams and wandered along the road.
They stopped when they came to the harbor wall.
‘Well, I never,’ said Aarvarn, ‘that’s a lot of water, and that’s for sure. I seen lakes before, but not as big as that.’
‘That’s not a lake, you boulder-head. That’s the sea.’
’Oh, ay, I knew that.’ Aarvarn took a sudden step backwards. ‘It’s moving! Can you see? It’s coming towards us.’
‘That’s just the waves. The sea does that. Sometimes it comes towards to you, and you gets your feet wet. Other times it runs away from you and you can’t hardly catch it.’
‘What’s a sea?‘
‘Hah, I knew you didn’t know. It’s like a… well, you know when you...it’s like a really big, really big lake. That’s what it is.’
‘I knew that.’
‘And them are boats; they carry humans across the water like, without em getting wet.’
‘Why don’t they just walk across?’
‘Humans are only little, and water can be deep, so’s they won’t be able to breath and they’ll die, just like that.’
They carried along the curve of the harbor wall, with the town rising to their left.
‘Look what I see, Raarvan, look what I can see.’ Aarvarn increased his pace as he left the wall and lumbered towards the tavern.
‘They have ale here, I knows it. That’s what that sign says. Ale and food.’
‘How do you know? You can’t read them words. You can’t read any words.’
‘Don’t need to read when I know a tavern when I sees it.'
They came to a stop, panting after their efforts.
Their next problem was clear to them.
The top of the doorway only reached what a charitable person would call their waists.
‘You go in, Raarvan; you’re more bendy than me. You can fetch me out a dozen flagons of ale, and a couple of dead carcasses.’
Raarvan grunted as he got down to his knees. He bent and pushed his head through the doorway, but his shoulders were too broad to follow.
He pulled his head back out and reached in with just one arm. After a little wriggling of his shoulders, he withdrew his arm and dangled a human man in front of Aarvarn. He was wriggling and shouting fit to burst, and trying his utmost to kick Raarvan.
‘This will have to do.’
‘I ain’t eating a human! I rekond they taste disgusting!’
‘No, I’ll send him back in to get the ale and the food.’
‘And the cushions.’
‘Yes, and the cushions.’
He dropped the man to the ground and was surprised to find him rolling about the ground, screaming in pain.
‘I think you’ve broke that one. You want to go and get another one,’ said Aarvarn shaking his head at his friend’s clumsiness.
‘Ay, I will. You have to be so careful with these humans. I’ll get me two this time, ‘case another one breaks.’
**********
‘Oh, it’s you; again.’
‘Beg your pardon, Lord Regent, for spoiling your day, like, but could we have a quiet word, in private if you please?’
Meldon glowered at him and went to push past him.
‘I’m a busy man, so you should speak to your sister instead. She has all the time in world.’
Rekk stepped closer, blocking his way, and placed a hand on his arm.
‘It’s about her I want to speak, it is. So, if we could go somewhere less public than this corridor, that would be for the best.’
Meldon pulled back at the man’s offensive breath, and brushed away his offensive hand.
‘I suppose I can spare you a moment, but no begging, for you’ll get nothing from me, and keep a respectful distance.’
‘After you, my lord Regent,’ said Rekk, stepping away with a passable attempt at a bow.
Meldon sighed and began to walk briskly down the corridor. Rekk followed, glancing from side to side to see who was about and might take notice of them.
They reached the Regent’s rooms without passing anyone; much to Rekk’s relief.
‘Well, what is this about?’ said Meldon, as soon as the door was closed behind them.
‘My, this is some room you have here, Mr Regent,‘ said Rekk, calmly as he turned around. ‘With your drapes and fine furniture.’
‘Get to it, man. I haven’t got all day.’
‘Beg your pardon, sir. I suppose I’m easily impressed, I am. Now, Mr Regent, I have some words to say, and I’ll say them quickly, so as to get this done.’
Meldon sighed and moved to sit.
Rekk slipped behind him and pulled his head back by his long hair with his left hand, and stabbed him in the back with sharp knife in his other hand.
‘What…?’ Was the last word to escape Meldon’s lips.
Rekk lowered the Regent’s body to the ground with well-practiced ease.
‘There, there, my fancy lord. It had to be done quick, in case my sis was wrong about your Magic.’
Quickly he searched the room for what valuables could be found.
With a dissatisfied scowl on his face at his lack of success in his search, he was careful to lock the door behind him when he left.
Chapter 32 The Boys
'There's Giants in Hesselton. Dan the Man told me,' said Gorge, with more than a touch of excitement in his voice.
'I'd surely like to see a Giant, up close like,' replied Tom.
'Not too close; they eats people. I heard that,' cautioned Sam.
'Well, we'll just go and take a look. Come on then lads.' Tom was already off down the road.
They'd spent the night at the Lady's house and, whilst they didn't get their own beds, they did get a hearty supper, and they hadn't been forced to listen to Dan the Man's vehement and extended berations for their tardiness, noisiness, and general boyishness.
'Maybe you can arm-wrestle one of these here Giants? What do you say there, Sam?' Gorge tapped him on the arm.
'I'm not going that near, less I get myself eaten.'
'I'll look after you; don't you worry none about that,' said Tom.
'How do you intend to do that?' asked Gorge. 'Are you going to charm him out of a tasty meal like Sam?'
'If charm is needed, then I might do just that.'
'I ain't no-one's tasty meal, ' grumbled Sam, as they approached the reservoir wall.
When they were settled in the little boat tied up to the steps, Tom tapped Sam's arm with his fist.
'Let's see if you can beat your record, Sam. See if you can reach the other side before I count to 100.'
'Righto,' said Sam, as he pulled the paddle from the bottom of the boat, 'but you's got to have your eyes closed, like, so's you can't see where we are. I think you started to count faster last time.'
'Ay, Sam, I'll close my eyes, and mayhap I'll take a doze while I count.'
'You can’t count and sleep at the same time, can you, Tom?'
'Well he talks in his sleep, Sam, so I can't see why he couldn't count as well,' said Gorge, with a smile.
'Do I really talk in my sleep? I trust I'm as witty as when I'm awake?'
'About the same, Tom. So, not witty at all.'
'One…' Tom began to count, catching Sam by surprise.
With a grunt he drove the paddle through the glistening water and the boat lurched forward.
''Go on, Sam,' urged Gorge, as he got into his rhythm.
Smoothly the boat breached the bright orange wall of mist that had protected the valley from prying eyes for many years.
As they passed through the mist on the other side, they came to the far wall of the reservoir.
'102!' Said Tom, laughing and punching Sam in the arm.
'You got faster near the end,' grumbled Sam, as he set the paddl
e in the bottom of the boat.
'Ay, and it's a shame you didn't.'
Quickly they tied up the boat and leapt up the steps leading to the top of the wall, and down the steps that would take them in to the town.
'Where will they be, do you think?' asked Sam, his eyes flitting from street to street, worried that they might be caught unawares.
'Let's go down to the harbor, and take it from there,' suggested Gorge.
'Ay, we won't have any trouble finding them. I think. Not with them being so big and all,' said Tom.
With a laugh, he pushed his friends to one side and set off down the main street. 'Last one to touch a Giant is a girl!' he cried.
'I ain't touching a Giant,' said Sam, 'but I ain't girl.'
'No, Sam. We know you're not a girl. Come on anyways. We can't let him win.'
Together they began to run after Tom, although Sam's eagerness for the chase was tempered by worry about their destination.
**********
The great hall of Fellstone was filled to the brim, with crawlords, broarlords, centilords, damlords and creylords, all milling and muttering, and being careful to give each other space. Unrequested physical contact between peers was considered bad form by the Elvenfolk.
'What is this all about?' whispered Crawlord Elstar, into Crawlady Blodnes's ear.
'We'll find out soon enough I should expect.'
'Have you spoken to others about that of which we spoke?'
'Yes, and with mixed responses. Not everyone forgets your earlier protestations about finding that of which we spoke. But we have some support, I think. You will be interested to know that Crawlord Turgon was most keen to be involved.'
'Turgon? I would not have had you talk to him; I do not trust him, and he feels the same about me.'
'Yet he has influence, and he can bring perhaps a dozen others with him. We should be sure to keep him with us, and not against us.'
Elstar nodded as he considered her words. He had history with Turgon, of which she was unaware.
There was sudden movement at the front of the hall, and silence fell as Elflord Ephlindon mounted the talking stone. He was tall and regal, with a long whitefox cloak and gold silk tunic and leggings. Elegant though his attire was, it did not disguise the fact that beneath his fancy clothes, he was little more than skin and bones.