Part Two
Chapter Seventeen
Earlier that evening
Another dull routine day was passing the vigilant guards-thanks gods- rounding along the ramparts of Vessener’s walls, so they presumed. Since receiving word about Latrell’s attack, the guards have been sleepless on their toes, ready to defend the city contingent upon a war broke and Abasi’s force gain foot to the core of the kingdom. Despite Vessener’s walls being praised for being impenetrable, it did little to ease the anxiousness they were feeling. The guards were distressed with the immense task that had befallen them. Unbeknownst to them, from a hill distant from the city, under shades of lush green bloomed branches of trees, superior beings who could easily kill them were watching them.
Calemir gazed up, watching, and estimating how many human guards were keeping watch from the walls. He observed the way they were heavily armed and, pensively surveilling from above. Even a great distance from them, He could feel anxiety and fear rolling from them. It glided and coiled around his body.
All the bravado. Calemir mused darkly.
He and his comrades had arrived in Vessener in the late afternoon. Being the one in charge, he’d suggested to scout the surroundings before they charged in. They inspected every trap and weak points. His sharp elvish ears caught the sound of crushing dry leaves under light strides.
“They have got eyes around the walls. It would be hard to get in unnoticed” Finn said, coming to stand beside him.
“All gates are secured too” Leena pointed coming behind them. The other three elves Finn had picked to accompany them, emerged from the opposite directions joining them after scoping their given portions. Leena had gone through the gates when she’d come searching for the Vár. During her quest, the spiked iron gates had been open for anyone to enter the city and leave. There were no guards who’d really bothered to check the faces who’d gone in and left. But with recent news, the gate was brimmed with guards. It irked the female elf warrior that they would have to find another way to enter. She pressed her lips into a tight line, being here again put her on edge. She wasn’t fond of humans. Being in their presence brought memories which were best forgotten. She couldn’t wait to leave the place soon as possible. She stared into the distant, mind lost into the old briefly. It’s been decades already, time passed, the world has changed, she should let go and forgive herself.
It wasn’t my fault I butchered them mercilessly. Leena recited in her mind. Cocking her head, she found Finn looking at her. She pushed her shoulders back and focused on the present. “I see no other choice. Going over the walls is our best chance. We are also running out of time.”
“Leena, Rithor and Melindre the walls are yours. Galeni keeps an eye on the horses.” Calemir instructed. He gazed at the darkening sky with its moon already out. They needed to get going. “Finn, we ride to the gates” he continued, mounting on his steed which had been busily munching grass.
“They’ll see you from a mile away”, Leena said, confused as to why he’d aim for the gate.
“That’s the point. A good distraction as you fetch the water-” again Calemir had to depend on Leena since she was the only one among them who knew where exactly where the well was located. He trusted her capabilities in retrieving what they sought.
“We meet back here, no need to search for each other in the city” he added.
Finn grinned and mounted his steed too. But before they separated Calemir added, a caution in his tone, “Play nice Leena.”
“Yes, Leena. Play nice” Finn cajoled and trotted alongside Calemir for the gates not seeing the look Leena sent him. Leena gestured the other two elves to follow her.
It was time do what had brought them to Vessener.
“What if they shoot us out of fear without acknowledging us first?” Finn asked casually as they neared the massive gates. “I’d hate to die so stupidly.” He was not a tad bit afraid. It was a habit of his to spring a conversation whenever he was about to enter a battlefield or any situation close to it.
“You cannot die, your death would leave trails of broken hearts.” Calemir decided to indulge his friend. He did it rarely. There was little in his life that brought pure pleasure to him and made him laugh without care, it’s why he grabbed the opportunity which could tip his lips to a crooked smile.
“True, it would be a great tragic” Finn cockily grinned.
Soon the horses came to a halt a few feet from the barred iron gates. Pushing humor aside, the two elves, transformed to enigmatic ruthless warriors they were.
“What do you want elves?” A sentinel positioned behind one of the crenels shouted, aiming his crossbow toward them.
Calemir and Finn looked up, noting huddled guards across the crenels with crossbows in hand, ready to shoot the cocked arrows.
“We come in peace. We are here to see King Lorenz” Calemir stretched his empty hands up in gesture he meant no harm. The guards remained quiet, not believing him as more marched and joined the other guards who were gravely staring at them.
A few dead humans wouldn’t be a problem for the price of getting the Urd. It irked him how the human guards were standing above them so fearless when it truth they were quailing inside their armors. He could have his sword drawn and slaughter half of them before they could recover from a bat of an eye.
Aside him, Finn tipped his head and shouted. “We are here to discuss of Kalil.” The mention had the reaction Finn had hoped, seeing the humans huddled more tightly and lowered their crossbows directly toward him and Calemir. The guard-who’d spoken-and who apparently seemed to be the person with authority over others, hesitated for a minute. Another guard walked up to him and mumbled something to him. The guard in charge nodded and ordered. “Open the gates!”
Guards armed with spears, bows and swords encircled them the second they stepped over inside the wall. A lanky guard on a brown mare broke from the circle and appeared in front of the two elves, keeping a steady gaze on them. “I am Hagen, sworn warrior of Murisa. I have orders to escort you to the king’s castle.”
“Lead us to him,” Calemir’s tone was curt.
Humans stopped on the streets and from the windows of their homes, gawked at the two elves in a mixture of shock and fear before moving to the horses they rode. Their eyes lingered as they studied the no ordinary horses with dark blue shinning skin with red markings and with full silver eyes except for the gold slits in them.
Good, the distraction is working Calemir mused as the man, Hagen showed the way. The horde of humans which had formed parted to the sides as they ambled forward to the king’s residence. Calemir disregarded the waves of emotions pouring and accompanied by murmurs rising from the crowd staring at him and lord Finn. It had been such a long time he had been in the presence of the likes. He couldn’t recall when he’d encountered so many of them. Fighting and maintaining Forod's borders from intruders would cut you from outsiders Calemir thought grimly, his fingers tightening on the reins. It wasn’t long when they reached the impressive structure established in the spacious yard. Hagen climbed off his horse, he and Finn dismounted too and followed him through the stairs between the two large immortalized wolves. They were guided in the lit hallways, swiftly passing and ignoring the guards craning their necks to get a good look at them and prove they weren’t hallucinating.
He heard muffled angry voices as they strode and took the stairs leading to another wing. Finn glanced at him, arching a brow. ‘What do you think is happening?’
Calemir sent him a look that conveyed whatever it was, was none of their concern. The voices became more distinctive, one of a man and a woman when they made another corner and took winding staircase that leads to a large illuminated hall.
Calemir did not need his sixth sense to feel the ominous air in the room even before the humans came to their view.
He perceived their expensive attires- their attention fastened on the woman standing alone among them. She stood rigidly, her fingers clenched in a tight fist as if restraining herself from doing something violent to unleash the anger he felt coursing inside her.
This must be the woman he heard. Intrigued, Calemir studied her. She was dressed in an elegant red dress which hugged her from neck to foot, her sleek dark hair falling like gentle waves on her shoulder and back.
Somehow and surprisingly, he was slightly disappointed he could only see one side of her face since she was sending a murderous look at the man at the high end of the table, who was clothed in a gorgeous coat with a jeweled crown on his brown hair and look of wrath on his face. King Lorenz. The man, Calemir concluded putting it together.
“Perhaps this is a wrong time to introduce ourselves?” Finn spoke beside him, his voice echoing in the room and drawing everyone’s attention to them. As it was expected, the humans here too were stunned to see them. Eyes widened threatening to pop out as gasps, shrieks and screams left their gaping mouths. Looks of pure disbelief, terror and awe crossed their faces. One noble jolted from his chair and fell.
Such manners.
Finn unabashedly enjoyed at their expense and savoring the attention while he, on the other hand, his attention was elsewhere. Still upon the woman.
Nara
The smooth male voice echoed clearly in the grand room. It was accented and impossible to ignore. Despite raging inside, Nara could not resist to twist and seek its owner. Her stomach dropped, and surprise overtook her for a long moment. She gaped at the two strangers in shock and horror. They stood just in front the entrance of the room, tall and foreboding. Her gaze drifted to the one who had spoken and was now wearing a smug expression. He was a good-looking man, and he was very much aware of it. His dark midnight blue hair was plaited to one long braid in the middle, the sides of his head cropped short almost near his scalp, his unique style emphasizing his high cheekbones, strong jaw and lips. Dark, thick lashes fanned and accentuated his gray eyes. She had never seen such an attractive man until today. He was also garbed in a ritzy tunic which hugged his lean upper frame well with trousers and boots affirming his lithe impressive height. He struck a casual pose in such a way that suggested he was familiar and no stranger to everyone in the room. She had a feeling it was all a false front from a glimpse of his eyes. “Our immediate presence must be actually surprising and shocking. Pardon our ill manners.” The elf spoke in Nyr and inclined his head to a slight bow then lifted his head again. “I am Finn Horrindor” He drawled and looked at the other elf. “This is Calemir son Gwainor prince of Forod.”
Come again?
Nara cocked her head to the one introduced as the elven prince. Her breath hitched in her throat at his beauty…no beautiful wasn’t the proper word to describe him. He was magnificent as a powerful jungle cat would be in the form of an elf. He stood taller, possessed a horned body fit for battle. She would bet her life he moved like the wild predator too all lissome and deadly. He wore a solid black tunic and a long black cape with fit trousers and boots. His baldric hanged across his chest the hilt of his sword peeked behind him. His silky hair, the color of golden wheat twisted to a braid back and with one thin braid hanging over his pointy ear to his broad shoulder. Her eyes moved on their own accord, tracing the shape of his lips, strong nose and jaw and meeting with forest green eyes. He was looking at her.
Nara bit her lip and her face colored in mortification. She wanted to avert her eyes from being caught rudely staring, but his intense eyes didn’t relent, on the contrary, they locked her in place. He continued to stare at her, his powerful gaze making her blood run cold, goosebumps skittering across her skin. His hard gaze probed, searched and pierced to the back of her skull, sending an odd feeling to the pit of her stomach. Surprising herself, she held his gaze. It didn’t hurt as much it normally did when she looked at others. And then as if he found what he had been searching for, he looked past her.
She released the breath that had stuck in her lungs unknowingly.
“No, forgive us this not how we treat our guests” the king’s voice broke the silence, startling almost everyone in the room. Nara turned his direction, the fury she felt flaring again. The king poise changed, he sat too close to the edge of the chair, his back stiff. It could be seen through his pretentious air regality that he was nervous and afraid.
“Please join us”, Lorenz gestured to the empty chairs with a placating smile.
The prince and his companion Finn didn’t move a muscle, they remained standing at the other end of the long table. The king’s smile fell into a thin line, displeased. Not many refused his command.
Serves you right, Nara couldn’t help but feel a sense of delight. With a brush, of tight lip grin, the king leaned back slowly and said. “To what do we owe this great visit from the prince of Forod and Finn son of Horrindor?”
Yes, why are you here? Nara wondered.
“You have something we need.” The prince replied in Nyr, his voice even and speech articulate with only a hint of an accent.
The space between her brows creased, not expecting to hear that. What possibly did they have that the elves wanted? It must be something of great value for certain.
“What exactly do we have that you need?” the king asked.
“The well” the prince stated, his unreadable eyes studying the king intently. Lorenz struggled to maintain a straight face under the prince burdening gaze. He has never been terrified in his life by just a look. His heart thrummed widely and began to sweat under his clothes. This was the day he was forced to use all his wits and underhanded tactics; he wouldn’t be quivering like an old hag if it wasn’t for Abasi’s traitorous ambitions. He cursed inwardly, vileness spreading in his chest. He had sought help from former allies, and they had refused to stand with him in this war he was about to fight. They were all scared of Abasi with excuses of his army being too powerful now and together with his allies. He recalled a note he’d received from king Roje of the Rocky Lands. Lorenz had promised to share the spoils if the other king joined him but the savage king who he Lorenz had always considered a kindred spirit with a same unquenchable thirst for power, had replied with a blunt rejection.
I’ll have my revenge Lorenz vowed. When it’s all said, and done Abasi together with his people will suffer unimaginably. Loosen the shackles, and they want to run. He’d learnt his lesson. Never lose the leash on your dog even if it’s choking them. And when he was done with Abasi, he would go after King Roje, teach him a thing or two about friendship.
“Please if it’ no trouble, enlighten me of this well and why is it so important to you” Lorenz refocused back on the elf prince. The prince’s hard gaze had him shrinking a notch and forcing him to change tactic.
“Suppose the well is here and I allow you to draw from it. How do you propose to pay?”
The prince pulled out a strange rock from the pocket of his cape and set it on the table.
***
Nara stared at the stone. The rock sparkled a soft hue of violet purple and yellow in an hypnotizing way.
“Allodia mined from Dragon Mountain” the prince stated.
Nara gaped. She had heard diamond, and other gems were not the only invaluable precious stone, but the only stone that rivaled was found in the Dragon Mountain of Forod. Whispers broke, both ladies and lords eyeing the gemstone with avid interest yet couldn’t compete against the greediness in the king’s eyes. His expression told he was salivating inside on the verge of crawling across the table and snatching the damn rock for himself. When Nara mused perhaps he might do just that, the king pulled back stiffly, tilted his head as if considering his options. Seconds which felt like eternity ticked by in a silent doom as everyone waited for the king to say a word.
“It will not do” the king spoke finally.
“Ornate box full of allodia.” The prince offered.
“Not enough.” the king retorted.
Nara glanced at the prince, noting his blank look and irritation edging in his eyes.
“I’ll pay in weight of your largest man.”
Loud gasps echoed in the room, astonished at the form and amount of payment. Nara stared at the prince, stunned. Truly he must be desperate to be willing to pay such an absurd of quantity. This spurred her to wonder what they needed the well for. And what is this well to cause such a demand?
The king smiled smugly, believing he had the elf in the corner. “Tempting as it is, it is not enough.”
“Name your price then.” The prince’s voice sent a trail of chillness over her spine, belying the neutral expression he had on.
As if the king was waiting for the exact words, he propped himself, straightened out and drummed his fingers on the armrest. He didn’t hesitate when he said, “Your alliance.” Etiquette and fear in front of the two guests vanished as murmurs of sheer surprise, confusion, disagreements and agreements broke out. Even the queen gaped at her husband dumbfounded.
Nara’s lips almost curled into half a smirk past her rage toward the king. Only he had the audacity to request alliance from the elves.
Evidently, lord Finn Horrindor was not in favor of the king’s suggestion, his said something to the prince in elvish. She only picked up hello and goodbyes from the elves who came to trade with them on trade days, so she didn’t understand what lord Finn murmured, however, one thing she certainly knew was whatever he just said to the prince wasn’t pleasant considering the hiss in his voice.
Will he agree?
A big part of her hoped he would despite it meant siding with the infuriating king. Nara could already imagine the victory over Kalil with the army of elves on her kingdom’s side. Defeating Kalil would be like swatting a fly. A hard expression settled on the prince’s features. He leveled his gaze onto the king as he uttered, “No.” His tone was final leaving no room for negotiations.
If the king was unsatisfied by the prince’s rejection, he hid it perfectly. He pressed on and conferred, “Agree to fight with us against Abasi, and I will let you fetch from the well. This is my final offer.”
This was what King Lorenz thrived on. Shady dealings, manipulation, deception these were all his element. He wasn’t known to be cunning and sly for nothing. The only thing that surprised Nara was where he got the boldness to challenge the feared prince, the man couldn’t even wield a sword properly. Nara considered him to be pathetic, as a king and the chief commander of the force, he should be able to stand forth and guide his army with skills and not just a mouth and let others do his bidding.
“Take what I’ve offered you” the prince spoke, his words sounded more of a warning than a suggestion. Just then, footsteps of more than just one person sounded on the stairs above them which winded to the hall. Another party entered the grand room. The mage, General, Barra, Risa and three elves and other human guards assembled beside the prince and lord Finn. Nara immediately recognized the female elf as the one she had crossed the path in that mingy pathway a day after her return to Vessener. The only addition to her clothing was the sword strapped to the side of her waist and without a hat that had shadowed her face and hid her gold locks that tumbled past her shoulders. The female elf glowered in their direction, making it obvious she was furious.
Nara didn’t think she could express her astonishment in any new way. All she wanted to know what in the gods was going on! Whatever was in the unknown well must be damn important to them to come in numbers. Are there others of them inside the walls and outside? The thought was frightening.
“He is a half elf,” the female elf informed the prince, her face cringed in disgust when she glanced at the mage who stood next to Barra-a protective barrier between her and the mage. The mage was wrapped in a grey robe and shawl from his head to his feet hiding his face as always. The mage was the only human known to practice magic across Murisa to Kalil. After the dark war had ended, only a few selected could work and manipulate magic for the sole purpose of protecting kingdoms, considering magic was also what brought the great destruction among their kind. However, as years then centuries flew, the fewer people were who knew how to weave it, and now, only him remained as the mage known in Murisa. Although he possessed the ability to conjure magic, they couldn’t rely on him alone to win the war against Kalil. He was not that powerful. He wasn’t strong enough to harness fully the magic that was left in the land.
Nara’s glanced back to the prince and found his expression was still impassive as ever with a shadow of darkness looming closely to the surface as he looked at the king. Finn on the other hand, had a grave look on his face even his stance had changed to someone on edge, which if pushed a little he would make sure you were the one who would fall alone. Nevertheless, it was the prince who alarmed Nara more, danger hummed around him.
“You thought I wouldn’t know your kind wouldn’t be after it. You try to steal what is mine!” the king barked.
The prince grinned, a very chilling grin, and took a step forward causing the lords and ladies to lean back on their seats, trembling. Nara felt her feet that had gone numb from standing prickle with adrenaline, -ready to take flight or fight. It was that scary.
“You deny us when you know better the well cannot be owned by anyone?” the prince questioned, his tone deceptively kind.
“I do not care for ancient rules. It’s on my land. I own it, and I can do whatever I choose to do with it, elf!” the king barked again.
“We came here in peace, and we would like to leave the same way,” the prince said, his words sending off alarm bells in Nara’s head.
The air in the room churned heavily, darker and dangerous as if something horrible was about to happen. The calm before the storm. Perhaps the king had gone too far snapping at him. Who knows what he might do? Nara hoped the king would realize he was trailing in dead waters against the elf. To her dismay, the king lashed and spat again “You are wrong if you thought walking in here with your cronies would scare us, it’d make us tremble and hand over whatever you demand from us! A savage is what you are, just like your brother. It seems death is the only leash for your kind!” Everything stilled in the hall to the point Nara could hear herself breathing. The king blanched, realizing he had crossed over the line. Too late to retract his words, it happened too fast, so fast no one saw it coming.