by D E Boske
“Gold and gems owed to The Order. By the looks of it, no one’s been by to pick it up in quite some time.”
“Payment for what, exactly?” persisted the curious elf.
“Our services. At one time, a Mage was stationed in every large town or city and retained as an advisor to the ruler. But that changed once Mordikai came into power. He ordered all the Mages to return to Mogan Dar and they haven’t been seen here since,” explained Darian.
“How long ago was that, Darian?” asked Kelindril.
Darian looked thoughtful for long moments before replying. “It’s got to be about fifteen hundred years, give or take, of course,” he smiled at the shocked looks on their faces.
“And they never bothered to claim their payment? And why would the gaffer hold it for so long? And what was the guarantee that it would still be in business?”
“They held it because they are afraid of The Order and well, they should be! This is The Order’s gold, not theirs, so they have no claim on it. In all likelihood, it’s been forgotten, just like the old ways. I have read every book in Piri-Tuma and was aware of this place. I figured it would still be here since it’s located in a human town.
“And though the gaffer claims they may go out of business, the town could never afford to let that happen. Another wealthy merchant or some such would take over, otherwise the town would fall. There’s no need to purchase anything to carry them. I will open a portal and we can move them faster,” the Mage added as he saw Brandiel preparing to leave.
“Thank you for keeping this for us, good man,” said Darian, handing over a pouch of gold. He figured it was well worth it, considering how long they’d held onto it all the while gaining interest. It had taken less time and effort to move the gold through the portal than manually and it was safer, locked away in Darian’s tower.
“Please, let me know if there is anything I can do for you while I am here,” said the Mage.
“Thank you!” said the gaffer. “Um, anything?” he asked hesitantly.
“Anything,” Darian repeated with a smile.
“Can you please talk to Thelarki? He keeps raising our rent to exorbitant levels and we cannot remain profitable like this. Without a bank… the town will likely fold along with his source of income.”
“I will do my best, but he is stubborn and reckless,” replied Darian and the gaffer glanced at Kelindril.
“You have nothing to fear, Mikel, I no longer work for Thelarki,” said the Gor Li’ Khan leader. Mikel appeared as if he would faint from shock on the spot.
“You have my word, Mikel. I will knock some sense into him before I leave these parts.”
“May I ask what brought you out of hiding? There’s been nary a Mage seen in these parts
for over a millennium.”
“I got bored,” said the Mage and the gaffer chortled.
“Got bored, he says.”
“Indeed,” the Mage laughed along with the gaffer.
“Join me for supper? I’m sure the stories you could tell are bountiful,” offered Mikel hopefully.
“I would be loath to decline that offer,” replied the Mage seriously.
“Excellent! What about the Mermaid’s Kiss at sundown?” asked Mikel and smiled when Darian nodded his consent.
“Are you mad? We don’t know this person and he cannot be trusted, Darian,” advised Kelindril, as they made their way back to the relative safety of the Coral Castle.
“That, my friend, is why I have you,” said the Mage jovially, as he clapped the elf on the upper arm again.
“Touching is not okay, Darian,” joked the elf and the Mage laughed.
“Has it really been that long since The Order has been here?” inquired Kelindril.
“Aye, that it has,” replied the Mage. “I assume you know where the Mermaid’s Kiss is?”
“I do,” said Kel, glancing at Nym and the Mage didn’t miss it.
“What is it?” asked Darian.
“It’s just that… sailors hang out there and it can get pretty dicey sometimes,” advised the Gor Li’ Khan leader.
“What, are you scared of a brawl?” joked Darian.
“With a bunch of Ni’ Kulana?” snorted Kelindril. “No, but are you sure being out in the open is such a good idea? Maybe we should go somewhere less public?”
“No, Kel. The busier, the better. Anyway, I’ve concealed my identity from the gaffer. He has no idea what I truly look like nor will he be able to describe me to anyone. He will recognize me, but once I am out of his sight, he will no longer recall me or my features,” assured Darian.
Kelindril looked at him with newfound respect. He hadn’t even felt the Mage’s subtle magic, which was highly unusual as the elf was always aware when Darian touched the Weave. Darian pulled his cowl close and only then did Kelindril feel the subtle pull on the Weave as Darian canceled the spell.
The way in which Darian touched the Weave was a testament to his power and strength. Even standing so close to him, Kelindril had felt nothing until Darian canceled the spell, and the elf believed he was only aware of it then because Darian told him of the dweomer.
Darian went to see Thelarki later that afternoon to begin feeling him out. The Mage would
try to change Thelarki just as he’d changed the Gor Li’ Khan, but he recognized that Thelarki
would most likely be more difficult. The Gor Li’ Khan outside his quarters stood stiffly at attention and their gaze did not waver.
“I would like to see Thelarki, please. Tell him Darian is here to speak with him and it’s important,” the Mage informed and did not back down. They eyed the Gor Li’ Khan that accompanied him and the obvious leader nodded to the other who ducked into Thelarki’s chamber to alert him of his guest.
"What do you wish to speak to him about?” asked the elf who remained outside of Thelarki’s quarters.
“A bit of this and a little of that,” said the Mage and the elf looked annoyed but was wise enough to remain silent.
Darian didn’t attempt to influence the elf to come work with him. In fact, Darian didn’t speak again to the Gor Li’ Khan and it seemed that this irked him too. The Mage talked quietly with Nym and Kelindril and Darian could tell that the guard was trying to hear what they spoke of.
“Thelarki will see you now,” said the returning Gor Li’ Khan.
“Excellent, my thanks,” replied the Mage, walking past them into the chamber.
“Join us,” offered Thelarki and the Gor Li’ Khan looked shocked but didn’t reply, they merely did as instructed.
Darian guessed that Thelarki felt the need to have Gor Li’ Khan flank him since he himself had brought his own guards. The Mage didn’t care either way. He didn’t feel threatened by Thelarki or his guards.
“What can I do for you, Darian?” asked Thelarki none too nicely. It appeared as if they’d interrupted something and a few moments later, Elyssa appeared, her eyes sliding maliciously to Kelindril as she put her arm around Thelarki. When Kelindril paid her no mind, it infuriated her further. It seemed Darian’s magic wore off since their last visit.
“I’d like to talk to you about your treatment of the Gor Li’ Khan, Thelarki,” responded Darian, in a cool tone. Elyssa’s eyes drifted over the Mage’s sexy form, lust apparent in her eyes, but Darian ignored her. She frowned in irritation but kept quiet. The Gor Li’ Khan stiffened at the Mage’s words, bracing themselves for a battle of wits they could not win, but they remained silent.
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business, Mage,” he retorted caustically.
“On the contrary, I believe it is and I’m not leaving until we speak on the matter. That is, unless you don’t care if they all leave with me?”
Kelindril’s face remained emotionless and detached, letting nothing show. Not only for
Thelarki, but for Elyssa, too. Though in truth, the sight or thought of her no longer pained him
and he realized it was because of Kylee.
“What do yo
u wish to discuss, Mage?” asked the king, obviously irritated.
“Treat the Gor Li’ Khan with respect, Thelarki. Their work should be a reflection of that respect. If misused, it can cause serious repercussions up to and including termination of their service with you, which I believe, you are already experiencing,” Darian began, his eyes glittering in dangerous amusement.
“How dare you!” But he never got to finish as Darian stood, cutting off any further comments. The tall Mage towered over the elves as if they were tiny, his very essence dwarfing all in the room.
“How dare I? How dare you treat them with such blatant disregard! They are loyal to you and serve you faithfully, Thelarki. Yet you abuse your power and have them beaten or killed should they fail in their service to you. What kind of monster are you? What have you become? You stand there and wonder why Rohn faked his death, why Nephraete fled, why the Gor Li’ Khan flock to me. The answer is before you, if you’d only look and observe.
“Is this how Mishtari wants you to behave? Would she be proud to see the man that you’ve become? The fearless leader?”
“Don’t you speak her name! You come here, to my home and insult me? Do you know who I am?”
“I will speak her name, Thelarki. Nephraete speaks often of her mother and weeps in sorrow with her loss. I speak to you this way to startle you into action. No one here has the balls to talk to you the way you deserve to be, but I will do so. I will always speak directly and plainly that you may understand my meaning.
“If you do not change the way you behave, you will end up being king to a city of one. For the walls will empty. The once bright inhabitants will flee to Blavven Krill. For they would rather take their chances in the deadly pass than spend another day under your tyranny.
“Always be kind and fair in your dealings with others, unless they give you reason otherwise. Respect others so that they in turn respect you. This shows compassion and understanding, which is the mark of a good leader. You will be amazed at the long-term results. If you do not believe me, talk to your former Gor Li’ Khan and ask them why they left. I’m sure they’d be happy to tell you,” said Darian.
“Kelindril, how could you betray me? You were my right hand! I should kill you for your traitorous actions!”
Kelindril sneered, “Have you heard nothing Darian just said?” the elf shook his head in defeat.
“I left your service because Darian showed us a better way. He enriches our lives and
honestly cares about us, something you never did. Not after Mishtari, anyway. He never abuses our skills nor does he pit us against women and children. We fight with honor now and will never return and you only have yourself to blame, Thelarki. If you do not change your ways, Kaleika Bay will suffer. They will all end up leaving to rejoin with our long-lost brethren, which by the way, do not hate us. They welcomed us with open arms.
“You lied to us when you said we would be met with violence. I now realize you said this to keep us in line, to keep us trapped here. If we felt we had nowhere to go, we’d never leave and we’d be under your rule forevermore.”
“Kelindril,” said Elyssa, tears in her eyes.
“Do I know you?” he asked, looking at her for the first time. Her pained expression gave him some form of satisfaction and he dismissed her, eyes cold and unwavering.
A knock on the door brought their attention around and Thelarki answered in a clipped tone, “Enter!”
It was Nephraete and she’d brought Kylee with her. Kylee went to Kelindril and kissed him, as his hands ran through her hair. Elyssa blushed in jealousy and anger but there was nothing she could do. The elf she knew so long ago was dead and gone and in his place was this… cold, dispassionate killer. A killer that she was certain she’d helped to create.
Kelindril deepened the kiss, allowing his surroundings to fade into the background. Kylee was beautiful, responsive, and intelligent. She was a compliment to him and he berated himself for fighting the attraction for so long. Thelarki’s Gor Li’ Khan stared open mouthed at the display, never thinking to see the former Gor Li’ Khan leader caught having feelings and exhibiting emotion. If the Mage could perform miracles such as this, what else was he capable of?
They saw how relaxed Darian’s guards were and immediately became jealous. Thelarki forbade intimate contact while working and yet, Darian allowed it. He didn’t openly chastise them nor even appear to be upset. Instead, he defended them against Thelarki’s wrath.
For now, they remained silent, but vowed to speak with the Mage later if he would see them. Thelarki never treated them with respect and it seemed to piss the Mage off. They wanted to work for someone who gave a damn about them and Darian really seemed to. If he could win over Kelindril, Gor Li’ Khan’s pride and joy, then…
Nephraete went hesitantly to her father and stiffened at his embrace. He frowned in pained denial.
“Why do you fear me, Nephraete? You know I would never hurt you.”
“Do I? You locked me in my room for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Don’t you think
that was painful, father? You didn’t allow me any contact with the outside world. Ever since
mother…” Nephraete gasped, as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
“Shh,” Darian comforted her, holding her as she wept.
“Don’t you see how you’re hurting your people, Thelarki? Even your children? How much will you lose before it’s too much? You already lost your children and you’re losing more Gor Li’ Khan every day. Soon, all you’ll have left is this trashy whore you keep at your side. Is that what you want?”
“I’m not a…” but the Mage cut her off.
“I wasn’t speaking to you, Dréja Ambruellan,” he responded in his native tongue, which he didn’t often do. Her cheeks turned crimson and she fought back tears of rage. Elyssa took a step toward Darian, probably to slap him, but he froze her with a wave of his hand.
“You think I’d let you touch me?” his voice was cold as he looked upon her with distaste. “I wouldn’t let you polish my boots.” He turned away, dismissing her and she looked to Kelindril who ignored her, standing firmly behind the Mage.
“Are you going to let him talk to me like that, Thelarki?”
“Nephraete, I’ve made mistakes, I know. The loss of your mother was too much to bear and I didn’t handle anything the way a proper father should have. Can you forgive me?” Thelarki asked, ignoring Elyssa and infuriating her.
“Why did you leave home, child?” he asked softly, watching as the Mage comforted his daughter the way he himself should be doing.
“Why would you even ask me that, father? Did you think I’d remain your prisoner forever? Did you think I’d let you force me to marry someone I didn’t love? It’s not your right! You may be king, but a seer always marries her Crebellan. Yet, you discarded all of that and I would know why?” Nephraete was tired of being meek and scared, she was tired of those who thought she was easy to manipulate and her words came out in a rushing torrent.
“Rohn fled because of you! He faked his own death and I lost my brother. It wasn’t bad enough that I lost my mother, but then, months later, to lose Rohn too? It was just too much and it’s all your fault. I can’t stand the sight of you. I don’t want to be here right now. I’d rather be anywhere but here. You don’t love us, you never did. All you love is yourself and power.” Nephraete shook with emotion and Thelarki stood stricken. He’d never heard his daughter speak this way before and he knew she was nothing but honest.
“Nephraete, I’m sorry, child. I never meant to hurt you or Rohn. I was in so much pain after we lost your mother and I couldn’t seem to function. I know I’ve made mistakes but I promise to do better if you will give me another chance,” Thelarki had unshed tears in his eyes for the first time that the seer could remember.
“The manipulation has to stop, father. I know that you’re trying to coerce Darian, but it
won’t work. He’s too smart for you. He’ll never go for it. But mos
t importantly, you’ve got to
change. Not just for Rohn and me, but for Kaleika Bay. Darian’s right, you will have nothing left if you continue on this path. You must lead with compassion and love. Be stern when necessary, but blend it with understanding. The only time you should order a death sentence is for treason. Do you think you are capable of changing?”
Nephraete didn’t back down, she couldn’t afford to and neither could Kaleika Bay. She didn’t know if she was getting her point across, but she hoped so because these were her people and Kaleika Bay was her home. She couldn’t bear to see them all in such pain. She glanced at Darian, she could feel his eyes on her, and he flashed a warm smile and nodded in encouragement.
“I wasn’t always this way, Nephraete,” said Thelarki softly. “I’ve been like this for some time now and I’m not sure how to go back to the way I was.”
“Look at Kelindril, father. Do you think it was easy for him? He’s taking it a day at a time just like you should. Please, I’m begging you. If you meant what you said and you want another chance, this is the only way.”
“I would do anything for you, Nephraete. I will do my best. Will you help me?” he sounded sincere, but the seer remained cautious.
“I will help you in any way I can while I am here, father.”
“You’re not staying, then? I thought…” he frowned, but wisely kept silent.
“No, father. I love you and I love Kaleika Bay but I cannot stay. My road lies with Darian now. I must help him, else Corillia will fall.”
“You have seen this?” Thelarki looked alarmed, as he looked from his daughter to the Mage.
“Yes,” Nephraete said, looking to Darian and Thelarki’s guards paled at her confession.
“What else have you seen, Nephraete?” asked Thelarki softly.
“I have seen much, father. You may ask Darian if you wish to know, as much of it concerns him directly. Other than that, you know I don’t always remember everything I see. Another reason we keep our Crebellan close.”
“Yes, where is Calisha?” asked Thelarki.
“Right by her side as always,” said Calisha, materializing beside the beautiful seer. He slid a possessive arm around her waist, tugging her gently against him and Thelarki nodded in acknowledgement. He didn’t appear to be ecstatic about the Crebellan’s hands on his daughter, but there was nothing he could do.