by Ed Montalvo
Mirehnah followed and stopped at the doorway, then addressed Seeker and Tuke. “Is he…” she paused seeing Seeker smiling and wondered what happened.
Tatiana handed Dregous his freshly folded blanket. To his surprise, it was neatly done, then stowed it in his pack. He scanned the room. With a measure of satisfaction, the mage raised a hand and recited a common utility cleaning spell. “What did you do?” she asked.
“I rid my presence…,” his tone was discomforting. For a moment she saw that lost little boy in his eyes again.
His comment made Tuke and Seeker’s smiles vanish. They glance at one another somewhat embarrassed, then the Grey Elf princess. His confession left them speechless. Mirehnah lowered her gaze. She never thought she would feel sorry for a Drouwen. All her life his kind was regarded with disdain for their unholy nature, their dark pleasures, their appearance. For the first time, she didn’t see what she was taught. He was, in fact, the opposite of everything she knew of them.
Tatiana stepped beside Dregous, resting a hand on his shoulder, “Come, we should go.” Dregous's white eyes with dotted pupils studied her and forced a smile. She handed him his pack then started for the door. They paused when they saw the look on their faces.
Seeker and Tuke stepped aside as the odd couple stepped away. The shame Dregous felt vanished knowing Tatiana stood beside him. The assassin watched Dregous and realized why he prevented her from revealing herself. She would share his treatment.
The Grey Elf princess addressed them, “Please forgive my father…”
He gently interrupted, “Nothing to forgive your highness… I understand… truly…” Tatiana took his arm with pride. “Thousands of years of hate cannot be eroded in one night,” he smiled. The Dark Elf expressed understanding and compassion to people who were taught to blindly hate Drouwens.
“You are very much unlike your people….” She lowered her gaze with a blush, then studied his eyes, “I wish to express my gratitude for saving me… in truth I have little…”
Dregous stopped her with a hand gesture and a knowing smile, “You already have…,” he paused, “I wish to share something with you.”
Mirehnah was surprised, “What would that be?” she smiled.
“There are more like me than the surface believes,” Dregous said, “Be well princess, I hope to cross paths again, under pleasant circumstances,” he bowed.
“Of course,” Mirehnah slightly bowed her head, then addressed Tatiana, “Princess,” and stepped aside.
Tuke and Seeker lowered their heads before the Elven princess. The priest was curious about her response. He was pleased his friend earned her respect. Tatiana concealed her surprise when the Grey Elf bowed and apologized openly.
From a distance, Lehoneh saw and couldn’t believe what his sister did. Submitting herself before a Drouwen, how appalling, he thought. He held his approach to watch more. Mirehnah stood aside as the Drouwen and Ayrian passed her with arms locked. He couldn’t make out what the Drouwen said to his sister.
Tuke glance at Rem, “Rem, we depart.” Rem shifted his shoulders to glance back. He looked ill, “Are you well?”
The Half-Elf had decided to ask for help when someone addressed him, it was Tuke, “Yea… just feeling a bit tired is all.” He let them go ahead, then looked for the high priestess. He had no intention of harming her. It was her aid he needed and hoped she would give it. After crossing between trees, Rem asked an Elf. He pointed him to her. As he approached, he knew he couldn’t kill an innocent person. Fear consumed him when he addressed her, “Pardon your grace…”
***
Mirehnah escorted the party to the gates with an entourage of Elven guards. Upon the city gates, the princess’s exercised protocol. “Please forgive my father. We had dealt with the Drouwens in the past to maintain a distant peace, and met with treachery.”
Tatiana’s only dealings with Drouwens was with Dregous. She knew him, and now sensed him, he is an exception. “Understandable your highness. I hoped the King would have seen, who he is and not what he sees,” she replied gently.
“Eloquently put my lady.”
They left the Elven City under the cover of darkness. “It would have been nice to recover after saving her,” Seeker mumbled.
“Agreed,” Tuke chimed.
“Perhaps we could rest out here?” Tatiana suggested.
“Yea, sure, and give the Grey Elves a chance to shoot Dregous full of arrows again,” Rem said as he rushed to catch up. They looked at him. He glanced into the dark behind him. After a few silent moments, they proceeded and would rest later.
Dregous studied their surroundings as they continued. Tatiana sensed a coldness and darted at Dregous, “Dregous, what is wrong?”
“The night is off,” the mage answered. She quickly drew her sword. The group followed suit. Seeker didn’t sense any threat.
***
A few macrocycles passed since the fall of Dorian Von’negrous. Urilah’s pretty bare feet padded behind her throne as she paced. A thin tunic fitting like a short dress adorned her. Her well-toned figure showed display battle-ready hardness, “Great Empress,” Saug-fah, her tracker assassin addressed.
“What have you?” she stepped to the edge of the dais.
“Forgive me great Lady, only what I reported a few cycles ago.”
Her mind was filled with other matters. An imperial scribe held a number of scrolls and was about to pass one to her, “Recount it.”
“I missed him…, it is now seven cycles ago,” Saug-fah said as she bent a knee, looking at her feet.
“Yes of course, I recall?” Urilah dreamt of others bowing before her. The moment arrived, but her mind was preoccupied with other matters. She imagined having Imperial power would arouse her. Instead, she felt fear and anger as she took a scroll from her scribe.
“He departed from the human town cycles before I arrived,” she lowered to kiss her feet. “As mentioned, I have reason he will return, though I know not when.”
Saug-fah’s attention to her feet reminded her of her new power and felt her arousal rise, “And your sources again?” she glanced at other reports regarding the empire's position with other great houses.
“They are unsure of his return.”
She relished her power fetish, “We are closer today than before… would you agree?” Urilah smiled down at her.
She grinned in return, “As you say.”
“But that little dung still manages to elude us somehow,” her tone agitated, “and that damned missing unit,” she said aloud, “And those damnable missing scrolls!” she shouted. “He must be found! They must be found!” she blared.
“We enter a time of great caution,” Chadzi said from her lonely spot. The women glanced at her surprised. Saug-fah forgot, wherever Urilah stands Chadzi is ever-present.
A sub-commander rushed in the throne room, “We have him Great Empress!” she shouted. Chadzi slowly retreated to the shadows unobserved.
Urilah smiled lustfully, addressed as great empress gave her a sexual tingle down the spine. “The missing units?” she hoped.
Her eyes lit like a child, “No, great empress, the prince,” she answered, barely able to contain her excitement.
“What,” the news was more surprising than she’d hoped, “Where?” addressing him as prince went unnoticed.
“One of my head unit commanders crossed surviving Orks,” she approached the dais and kneeled. Her tone changed as she spoke regarding the battle’s outcome, “Great empress, the survivors say he slaughtered the regiment.” She lowered to kiss her feet.
“What?” Urilah had a difficult time excepting the report. Saug-fah was stunned as was Chadzi. “How the Hell did he do that?” she darted a sharp eye to Chadzi’s corner.
“I know not great empress. According to the Ork, as they gave chase, he summoned a white smoke or mist, destroying everything it touched…” she repeated the Orks report. They painted a dreadfully powerful picture of the prince. “…I detected decepti
on on the Orks part.”
“How badly?” Saug-fah asked.
“I omitted their exaggerations.”
Urilah glared at her, “What exaggerations?”
She shrugged her shoulders, “He threw them about like child’s toys.”
“And the mist?”
“That was real, my Empress.”
“Real,” she whispered.
“Do you have the written report?” asked Chadzi.
“Of course my lady.”
“Handed,” Urilah commanded. Chadzi silently stepped beside Urilah, took the scroll and began reading.
“There is more, great lady.” Saug-fah studied her.
“More?” the new empress’s tone sounded barely amused after the report.
The sub-commander addressed the empress, “He befriended the Grey Elves.”
Urilah's brow creased with concern, “He is gaining allies quickly. Should this continue…,” she drifted.
Chadzi walked away after hearing the comment. It sparked a memory of Cha’chila’s reoccurring vision in the past two hundred years. The last being but a few months ago, and wondered if they moved too soon. Did they set in motion the empire’s destruction? Chadzi recalled the last vision when the high priestess wrote it. Things were transpiring dangerously close to her vision. Then contemplated the many prophecies said of Dorian and realized her error. Had she heeded Cha’chila, she would have killed Dregous instead. An epiphany dawned on her. Dregous’s family, including his children, were killed. She could almost hear Cha’chila’s voice when first reading her diary, ‘He will suffer greatly like none other, from that his power will grow divinely… should the empire turn on him, his wrath will fall upon them…’ she gasped to herself and wondered if he would be as powerful as Cha’chila feared.
“Worry not great lady. He will not have the chance.”
Urilah studied her sternly, “How so?”
“I have instructed Tahnni, should the opportunity arise, kill him,” she answered. “We have the deadliest poison known Great Lady.”
Urilah arced a brow, “Not what I had in mind….”
Chadzi barely heard them, though pretended she did. She quickly walked over to Urilah. “He must not be killed… not like this.”
She pulled away slightly. “Why not?” she asked softly.
“If she fails, there will be no turning back,” Chadzi explained. Saug-fah and the sub-commander backed away giving them privacy.
“His family is dead…”
Chadzi immediately cut in, “Accidents happen in war… this is deliberate.”
***
She extended her hand to the Ork, “Shut your dung smelling mouth and be still!” Tahnni hissed harshly. They were uneasy but complied. She cast a levitation spell on the bowman. Once completed she pulled out a scroll and began reading. Moments later the Ork was invisible. “Now go up to the top of this tree and look for him.
He studied himself and realized he was only transparent, “I no gone?”
Tahnni faced the empty spot she last saw the Ork. “You are.”
“I see me.”
“Of course you do dimwit, no one else can,” she hissed impatiently.
“O,” he grunted, hoping she would turn her anger elsewhere. He leaped to the nearest branch and gently pulled his way up. Halfway up he stopped to cock his crossbow, then pulled out a small vial with an amber fluid. He dipped the arrowhead in and poured the rest on the shaft. Then tossed the crude container aside and loaded the crossbow.
A malevolent presence watched as the Ork readied himself. It created an illusion of a sturdy branch. The Ork didn’t notice the limb as he rose. He secured his weapon on his shoulder, then resumed his upward drift with vigor. Upon perching on the illusionary branch, he readied the crossbow, then searched for his target. A few Elves walked about, but no Drouwen.
The malevolent entity floated behind him with a cynical smile. A terrifying coldness blanketed the Ork archer as he whispered into the greenish creature's ear, “There is a nice mark.” The archer looked between the new target and Tahnni a few times, doubting himself when spotting Dregous. He snorted softly with delight as he took aim. “Why him, he is nothing….” said the entity. The Ork debated with the voice in his head as the Drouwen left with the group. When he realized the Dark Elf was gone, he desperately searched to no avail. He spotted the Elven female again, she spoke briefly with a Half Aquatic Elf. “Now, that one is better.” He studied the female as his inner voice praised his selection.
Tahnni wondered what was taking him so long. She made the sound of a thrown rock on gravel with her mouth. The Ork looked down.
“It would be grand to have them all fight one another,” it whispered pacifying his ego, “would it not?” the archer pondered the possible chaos.
She signaled him to hasten. “The spell will not last much longer,” she whispered more to herself and saw him on a branch, “Finally he thinks,” Tahnni muttered sardonically.
He waited for the last group member to leave, “Oh indeed, that is a nice one… you will be hailed a grand warrior by the Dark Empire and your Clan,” it whispered again. He softly snorted and took aim. “Calmly… wait until she is alone.” The Ork patiently waited and followed her with the eyepiece.
The priestess crossed a walkway linked to another tree.
When she reached midway, the Ork smirked as he squeezed the trigger. The arrow swished its way to its prey when he became visible and suddenly plummeted, landing near Tahnni. The solid thud mixed with cracking bones surprised her. They approached the body. She looked between his perch and him. He was still breathing and wondered how he fell. She hadn’t realized the branch he perched was no longer there. “At least you fired the arrow,” she consoled. Then heard others approaching. “Take him and follow me,” she ordered two Orks. ‘Remove any trace of us,’ she signed her priestess.
Priestess Mahgiah, weaved a spell to erase all traces of their presence. Then carefully retreated, ensuring secrecy.
“I am certain I heard something my lord,” said an Elf.
“Scout the area, carefully,” ordered the unit leader. shortly after a scout discovered a crude bottle and brought it to his commander. Another found the Ork’s heavy crossbow buried under fallen leaves.
She cursed the dimwits for leaving that behind. She must inform Tahnni.
***
Dregous sat beside Tatiana focusing on the fire. They had a light conversation with no mention of what happened with the king.
Chapter 17
Mental poisoning is a dreadful craft. A doubtful seed is all that is required. Once planted it will slowly germinate…. Soon you will see things falsely. The falseness will fester in your mind and heart. Marriages, families, and friends will suffer from this powerful dark magic.
Tutorial of the divine emperor of shadows
Rem's shielded his half desperate expression as he walked into the dark woods. Tatiana enjoyed the fire’s warmth. “Angel,” Dregous whispered. The steady night breeze waved her hair drowning his gentle whisper. He nudged her, “Angel.”
“Hmm,” she offered a smile so pleasant his heart skipped.
With effort, he forced his emotions aside. “I was thinking, perhaps we should recover some of the wealth we hid,” Dregous mentioned.
“What of the fallen paladin?” she whispered back and extended her hands near the flames. They heard Rem nearby gathering wood to feed the fire for the night. Tuke spoke to Seeker, distracting her from spying on the Half-Elf. They spoke lightly of Crystal. “You know he will be there,” Tatiana said.
“I have my doubts,” Dregous replied.
“What makes you certain?” the princess glanced at him.
“Reasonably certain would be more accurate… besides, I am confident we weaken his hold on the town. He has no army. And, if you recall, Mirehnah said the Dwarves reclaimed the mountain.”
“True, let us not forget, we stumbled onto them. Who is to say he does not have a contingency. As you say, mage
s are a secretive lot. He may hide within the belly of that mountain for all we know.”
Dregous smiled inwardly, “Well put, however, hiding in the very mountain he launched his attack would be too risky, do you not think? Besides, with his army in shambles, he would have to contend with the Dwarves himself. As I stated, he would choose a place with greater solitude and no confrontations to plan his next move.”
Tatiana avoided his penetrating eyes. “I suppose…” she offered weak confidence.
Dregous interrupted gently, “Let us not forget Tuke.”
She recalled the promised they made and sighed, “We did say much will go to the needy, and Riverdale is still in great need. Then we will reclaim it in haste before it grows legs.” She faced him, then glanced at the group.
“Did you hear that Rem,” Seeker called.
“Huh, Of course, I did.”
“What of the fallen Knight?” Tuke asked.
“That can wait for now. Besides, we defeated him, and has not been heard from since,” Tatiana said.
“He may be at the mountain,” Tuke replied.
“Not likely,” Dregous chimed.
“Are you certain?” Rem asked.
“He would have been discovered with all the patrols about,” Dregous sipped water from a skin.
“Well, in his absence, we should not have any trouble gathering our booty,” Seeker said.
“Now is the time to rid us of his cruelty and malice,” Tuke argued softly.
“Tuke…” Tatiana started.
Dregous interrupted, “Angel,” Dregous gestured.
“Please,” Tatiana said.
Dregous bowed his head slightly, she smiled. “Think a moment, this knight cast spells… powerful spells that should only be done by high-grade mages. Should we discover him, we may be at his mercy. We defeated and dispersed his horde, but his power was not,” Dregous explained.
“Perhaps, but your wand,” Tuke mentioned
“What of your magic and us aiding,” Seeker added.
“I am not proud to say, I am not ready to face him. As for my wand, it was destroyed,” Dregous displayed its’ remains, the crystal crown has separated from the wooden shaft.