by Nova Rose
Chapter XII
A Meeting Among Enemies
King Edrei’s boots echoed around him as he paced the great hall of his keep waiting for the four kings to arrive. He had sent messengers to all of them requesting their presence. A horn sounded in the distance and seconds later a messenger burst through the giant doors. “My Lord, King Telinin of Belyndril has arrived.”
King Edrei nodded in acknowledgement of the message. The messenger saluted and left. Edrei paced around his throne as he waited for King Telinin. He did not have to wait long. The king of Belyndril marched into the room followed by two of his guards. His muddied boots left deposits of muck on the marble floor and his red and silver cloak billowed behind him. His tunic bore the crest of Belyndril in magnificent gold thread.
“Your guards will wait outside,” said King Edrei in greeting.
“Alone in your palace,” replied King Telinin, “They will remain with me.”
“That was not the nature of our agreement. I assure you that no harm will befall you whilst you are here.”
King Telinin’s mouth opened to argue the point but snapped shut when he reconsidered his actions. He signaled his guards to wait outside. “Why have you summoned me here, Edrei?”
“That shall be explained when the others arrive.”
King Telinin laughed. “Do you really believe they will come?”
“You came.”
“Yes, well, I nearly refused your request.”
“Then why did you come?” King Edrei turned and faced King Telinin.
King Telinin did not answer immediately. He himself did not know why he had accepted King Edrei’s summons. “Curiosity,” he replied.
Another horn sounded. “Riders approach the gates,” called the watchman. Again, a messenger arrived. “My Lord, the kings of MurDair, Sym’Dul, and Belarnia have arrived.”
King Edrei took his place in front of the throne doing his best to command respect. He stared at the chamber doors as he waited hoping that the entire proceeding would prove valuable. King Telinin held his place directly below King Edrei. Three men burst through the massive doors barely giving them time to open. Shouting ensued as two of them argued. The elf remained silent and composed, his eyes darting about.
“Gentlemen,” greeted King Edrei.
The arguing ceased and they all gathered near him.
“King Telinin. Punctual as usual,” said King Slyamal, coldly.
Telinin remained silent.
“Well, well, well. I see you have managed to get all five of us here on peaceful terms. Tell me, Edrei, are you sore about losing the battle and I taking glory from the field?” chided King Slyamal.
“The only glory you took that day was the crown of stupidity,” replied King Edrei. “We lost that battle because of you. Had you listened to Captain Tesnayr we would have won.”
King Slyamal reddened. “Are you certain that it was not because of you that we lost?”
“Come now. Your flair for battle has always been lacking, Slyamal,” said King Nalim in a mocking tone.
“How dare you,” yelled King Slyamal. “I did not come here to be insulted by the likes of you, dwarf king!”
“You have allowed yourself to be insulted by claiming a victory that never occurred.” King Shealayr spoke with a serenity that the others did not possess. “A foe in the night.”
“Save your philosophy, elf. I heard that the orcs decimated the forests of Belarnia,” spat King Slyamal.
“Not entirely,” replied King Shealayr. “Tesnayr rescued Belarnia that day. The orcs have not returned. They have found easier prey.”
“Prey,” said King Nalim, “Is that how you think of us?”
“No, master dwarf. That is how the orcs think of you. Unfit to live, but worthy enough to be their slaves,” replied Shealayr, calmly.
“If your kingdom is so well protected why have you not helped the rest of us?” questioned Telinin. “Belyndril is overrun. I am in exile and my people enslaved!”
King Shealayr regarded King Telinin guilelessly. “You never asked for my help.”
King Telinin threw his hands in the air. “Oh, I never asked. You make it sound so simple.”
“It is that simple,” replied Shealayr. “I have my own borders to protect, Telinin. Why should I aide a man who claims that the elves are his sworn enemy?”
Telinin’s temper boiled. “Such a well-reasoned argument. Perhaps it never occurred to you that helping the rest of us would ensure the protection of your own borders.”
“From the orcs, but not from you,” replied Shealayr. “You expect help when you yourself only give aid when it is rewarded. Of course, your antics are not as bad as some.” King Shealayr glanced in King Slyamal’s direction.
King Slyamal caught the look and went livid. “My antics? How can you expect me to aid you when my own borders are under attack? Until I ensure that they are safe, you will receive nothing from me.”
“And you are doing a magnificent job,” sneered King Nalim. His sarcasm did not go unnoticed.
“Any gift from you is a curse,” said Telinin. “Stay behind your borders. The world is well rid of you.”
“Enough,” thundered King Edrei. The room fell silent. “I did not summon you to listen to your incessant bickering.”
“Then why did you summon us here?” asked King Telinin for the second time that day.
King Edrei moved toward the other four swiftly and smoothly. “I summoned you here to discuss the problem at hand: the orcs. For months we have fought them and have lost time and time again. Each of us has been fighting two wars: the one in here and the one out there.
“You, Telinin, currently have your army split in two fighting MurDair and the orcs. Nalim declared war on Belyndril and Hemίl four weeks after the first orcs arrived. I have lost the northern kingdom because I was forced to fight the orcs and Sym’Dul. And you, Slyamal, ignored warnings from your own people!”
Everyone glared at King Slyamal. He glared back.
“Until recently Belarnia was at war with Sym’Dul. Now I ask you: how are we to protect our lands and defeat the orcs if we continue to fight amongst ourselves? Our alliances never last more than a few weeks. The orcs are using our vices against us. They let us kill each other to make us easier to conquer. Our kingdoms have fought for five generations. Does anyone among us even know why?”
The five kings stared blankly at one another refusing to answer. None of them wanted to appear ignorant.
King Shealayr broke the muted silence. “I was there when it first began and ashamed to say that I do not recall the reason.” His matter-of-fact voice caught them off guard.
Everyone hung their heads. If the elf did not know how the fighting began, how could they continue it? But though they were all shamed by his words, a lifetime of fighting is hard to shake off.
“This Tesnayr you spoke of earlier,” said King Telinin, “I have heard his name before.”
“Captain Tesnayr as he prefers to be called. No one knows anything about the man, except that he came from across the seas. He has formed his own army to fight these orcs. He has won every engagement except one. He was betrayed then,” said King Shealayr.
“I heard that the orcs captured him,” said King Nalim.
“He escaped,” commented King Edrei.
“And gone into hiding,” said Shealayr.
“He allows any to join his ranks including women,” spat Slyamal.
“Nelyn of Belyndril,” said Shealayr endearingly. “She is a remarkable woman and I would not wish to confront her in battle.”
“How is it that so much is known about him?” asked Telinin, “Even the dwarves know his name.”
“The people sing of his deeds,” replied King Slyamal.
“Yes, and the wind carries many things. It has long been believed among the elves that a stranger from the sea would unite the five kingdoms. The voice on the wind foretells it,” said King Shealayr.
King Slyamal laughed. “Spare us
your mysticism,” he scoffed. “The wind does not speak and your prophecies are meaningless.”
King Shealayr smiled at Slyamal’s skepticism. “Yet here we are. Five kings united on common ground discussing a stranger who may be able to assist us.”
“Prophecy or not,” injected Edrei, “We have a problem and Tesnayr may be the only man who can provide a solution. If he is willing.”
“He may not be. Not after Slyamal’s betrayal,” commented Nalim.
“Must we start on that again?” stormed Slyamal.
“You gave him your word! And you broke it,” said King Edrei. “You are a weasel of a man. The orcs have more honor than you.”
“I do not have to listen to this.” King Slyamal stormed toward the exit prepared to leave.
“Before you walk through those doors,” King Edrei stopped him, “Consider this: You will be on your own and may find yourself no longer the King of Sym’Dul.”
King Slyamal stood in midstride for several seconds mulling over Edrei’s words. He turned and slowly walked back to the others. “And where might we find him?”
“He was last reported to have left the Black Mountains. No one knows where he went,” said King Edrei.
“Then why are we discussing this if no one knows where he is?” King Slyamal asked irritably.
“I know where he is,” came a silvery, musical voice. The five men turned toward the far corner of the great hall where the sorceress Ernayn stepped out from the shadows.
“How long have you been standing there?” inquired Edrei.
“Long enough,” replied Ernayn.
“Then tell us. Where is Tesnayr?” asked Telinin.
Ernayn circled the five kings eyeing them. She kept the hood of her cloak positioned so that only her face showed. “He is encamped deep within the Perili Mountains for the winter, as are the orcs, far north of here. But who among you will go?”
“Go? Go where?” asked King Telinin.
“Go talk to him, of course,” replied Ernayn.
“I will go,” volunteered King Nalim. “Perhaps a stranger can persuade the man to assist us.”
“Perhaps we shall all go,” suggested King Telinin.
“That may make him wary of our intentions,” said King Edrei.
King Shealayr stepped forward and with a tone of finality said, “I will go. Tesnayr knows me and I believe he trusts me.”
“What makes you so certain?” asked King Nalim, suspiciously.
“One of my elves is with him. Has been these many months,” replied Shealayr.
“You treacherous elf. Formed a secret alliance with him,” accused Nalim.
“None at all. He helped save Belarnia and I merely returned the favor. I knew that one day we would meet again.”
“How long will it take you to find him?” asked King Edrei.
“By the next full moon if the sorceress provides me with a more detailed description of his whereabouts. Otherwise, I cannot say.”
“I have told you the area. It is for you to discover the exact location. Consider it a test of your resolve,” said Ernayn. “I will send my pupil with you. She knows those mountains and will ensure that you reach Tesnayr’s camp safely.”
“Preposterous,” yelled King Slyamal. “Trusting our fate to a man whose origins are unknown. He will bring destruction and—”
“Silence!” roared Ernayn. She moved over to Slyamal and looked him square in the eye. “You are right to fear meeting him again, King Slyamal, for he will not be pleased to see you and remembers your deed well. You will remain here and your fate will be that of this man. Save what honor you have left before you lose that which is most dear!” Ernayn disappeared into thin air as her words echoed through the chamber.
“It is settled then,” said King Edrei. “Shealayr, you will find Tesnayr and bring him here. If he agrees he will lead all our armies. We shall await your return.”
King Shealayr left. He found his horse outside with Quesha waiting beside it packed and ready to go.
Back in the great hall only King Telinin and King Edrei remained. “Do you really believe he will come?” asked Telinin.
“I don’t know,” replied Edrei. “I sincerely hope he does, for all our sakes.”
King Telinin left the chamber. He marched through the hallways towards his bedchamber hoping to get some rest. Rest was to be put on hold as King Slyamal cornered him. “Slyamal,” sighed King Telinin, “I am not in the mood.”
“Save your protests. I am here about my daughter.”
Understanding King Slyamal’s sudden appearance, King Telinin calmed down. Though he did not care for Slyamal, Telinin liked Jenel and had hoped to form a union between her and his son. “She arrived safely in Belyndril. I plan to head back there in the morning.”
“But the orcs, have overrun it.”
“They have not reached La’nar. I assure you, your daughter is safe.”
A messenger arrived interrupting their conversation. “King Telinin, this just arrived for you.”
Telinin took the parchment from the man and dismissed him. He broke the seal and read it in the lamplight. “Oh no,” he breathed.
“What? What is it?” demanded King Slyamal.
“La’nar is in flames. Your daughter has disappeared.”