Aylana was on my thoughts a lot in the days to come, when I practiced my archery, and I always looked for her among the wounded. Both hoping and praying that she wasn’t there. But a small part wanted her to be, so that I might steal her and put this place in my rearview forever.
Every night, I sang to the moon and the stars, it seemed the only way to get rid of my anxiety and worry. I had heard stories about spouses in the military, going through what I am right now and I didn’t find that fact the slightest bit funny. I found that if I submerged myself in business, kept my brain busy, it wasn’t as bad, but the nights were the worst, sleeping alone. How I would turn and my arm would fall to the empty bed, instead of my wife’s side.
I had come up with a completely new business model. Taking my poor attempt to help out Lord Twat Waffle and running with it. With a few more fields, we could expand our reach to the neighboring territories. I even sent a copy of my outlines to Bretta and Hana. Though Bretta said we couldn’t do anything until after winter, Hana seemed all for it and would send out the proper requests.
My mind then turned locally, I had the monopoly on produce from Harwick to Souton, but there were other potential business ventures, worthy of growth in the area. Hell, the closest Inn was a day’s walk and was shit. Not that I wanted to buy it, but if I could build my own?
Thus, were how my days went, thinking of new types of businesses, arguing with myself during the down time. Then one night, as I descended the stairs, I saw my crew at the dining room table. I was confused, “what are you all doing here?” All seven of them were seated, eating uncooked vegetables, with somber faces.
Brandon stood, the leader of the small group. He didn’t look happy, and in a small voice confessed. “The others, they ran. The elves are fleeing the city and heading to the coast and the Retainers with them. We ah…” He motioned to everyone around the table, “didn’t want to leave you here alone.”
It warmed my heart to know my slaves would not leave me. But the truth was, I would not be responsible for their deaths. “I thank you for your loyalty, each of you. From the depths of my soul, I am proud of you. But you can’t stay here either, not as you are.” I motioned for Brandon to follow me a short way. “How do I free you?” I wasn’t about to argue with them about running for their own lives, they stayed. That was enough for me and worthy of freedom.
Through trial and error, we discovered it together, for each of them was branded and all I had to do. Was place my hand on the brand and a small window will appear. On the bottom was a small scroll icon, and once pressed would ask me to confirm to free the person. I swiped right for each of them, save the stoned Torga. Who just chomped on carrots all day. I came up with a plan for my people, and sent the letter to Hana to have a ship come pick them up. To my freed people I said. “Head for the port, and then travel one day south. Take my tabard and hang it from a tree so it can be seen from the beach. A ship will arrive and pick you up and take you back to Atheria.”
“What then?” Fank asked.
“I have instructed my Mediator to give you each a few hundred silver and you can make lives for yourselves. I wish you all a happy life.”
“What if we want to stay...I mean with you.” Brandon said in a small voice.
“I would be happy to keep you all on. Just tell Hana you want to stay and she will make arrangements to take you to my land.”
“No.” Said the small deer boy. “I mean here, with you. Until you get back to your lands. I am staying, I am free and it is my choice.” I had never been prouder of the little Deerkin. But this was not a place for a child and when I told him as much, he squared his shoulders on me and put his hands on his narrow hips. “I am staying.”
“As am I.” The Lionkin woman said. My hand still remembered the softness of the skin on her chest when I touched her brand. “I was an assassin before, I can help you. I owe you a debt, and I would pay it now, if I could.”
“Alright. Anyone else?” They looked ashamed, but no one less wanted to stay. I gave them my tabard and said, “I wish you well, and the goddess willing, I will see you in three days.”
As they left, Brandon asked in his high-pitched voice. “What about the Elf Woman? You know Avashay, the one they have done in the pit of stone?”
I turned my attention to the Lionkin, “who is he talking about?”
“You will see, but before, I need weapons if I am to pay off my debt to you.”
After a trip to the armory, we armed up with anything and everything we could. Brandon was hilarious with a helm four sizes too big for him and a mail suit dragging on the ground. He shot me a wounded gaze, but there was nothing I could do but pinch his cheek. “My little warrior, your so damn cute.”
“Stop it.” He yelled and jumped back from me, even with the weight of the mail, he was still incredibly fast.
As I waited for the Lionkin, who I learned was named Avashay Macala, of a savaged Pride from the Grasslands. Stolen from her land and sold from one master to another, finally ending up at the auction from where I purchased her. I could only guess Torga shared the same fate, only hers was due to being abandoned by Vexi. It wasn’t that I disliked Torga, what happened to me was her master’s doing. But neither did she stick up for me and I knew if Vexi had commanded it, Torga would have killed me without a second thought.
My feet took me back to the Armor of the Warden, and as I gazed at it, I could see something was off. Where there had been small green embellishments, now there were none. Where the armor had oozed power, now it felt like all the others, empty, just another suit on display. My hand reached out, carefully this time, and I made ready to draw my hand back just in case. At seven inches, my hand trembled slightly, at six, even more. Closer and closer I extended my arm toward it, until my fingers rested upon the cool metal. “The hell?”
The shock I received sent me sailing backward into an empty row of weapon racks. The wood broke my fall and cracked under my weight. And as I laid there, collecting my thoughts about how stupid I was, it struck me then, something was indeed different. I groaned as I climbed to my feet and Ava called out if I was alright. “I’m good.” In a lower voice, I said, “don’t mind me, just a glutton for punishment.”
Aside from my back and my wounded pride, my hand was perfectly fine. There was no pain, no stinging as there was last time. With pigheaded resolve, I reached my hand back toward it, this time with more mustard, a confidence that came from somewhere deep inside. As I pressed my palm to the armor, I swore I heard a voice in my head, yelling at me, swearing. What little I knew about electricity would only take a minute to explain, but I did know one thing, I needed to ground myself or I would be sent flying again. I could feel the surge build, slower this time and I pressed my other hand to the wall.
The power coursed through me, in one hand and out the other. “Take that bitch.” In my victory, I thought the contest over, however I had removed my hand from the wall before the second surge came and was blown backward again. I swore I heard an evil laughter when the surge hit and I knew I was messing with something I shouldn’t be. “Fine, stay up there and rot.” I looked at the sword and bow on the wall beside the enchanted armor. “You two feel the same way?” My stupidity was at an all-time high as I placed my hand on the sword, but nothing happened, and I couldn’t feel anything from the weapon. Same with the bow. Carefully I took both from the wall, and drew the blade from the scabbard. “Nice.”
It was a single edged weapon, longer than I was used to and made with a metal the same as my dagger. Only this blade, had a strange circle within a circle pattern, whereas my dagger had more of a ladder pattern. Hesitantly, I touched the blade and sighed in relief when I was not blasted backward. “Good enough for me.” I pulled down the backpack like quiver and filled it with arrows before turning to the others. “We good?” The other two looked up. “Let’s go met this Elf.”
Sure, there was a grate in the floor, lined with stone. Sure, the stench was awful and co
uld be smelled twenty feet away. But Brandon pranced over to the grate like it was the most normal thing in the world, and if the skittish Deerkin thought it was safe, why shouldn’t I?
“Hi Bel, how are you today?”
“I am wonderful young Fawn, who have you brought with you?” Her voice was a higher pitch than any of the other elves, but it was the way the hair on my arms and neck stood on end that caused me to slow my pace.
“My master, well, he’s not my master anymore, he freed me Bel, can you believe that. I am free!”
“Excellent, many praises to the Lord of Nature. I would meet this master who is not a master. Would you bring him so that I may gaze upon him, and thank him for freeing my very special friend.” The way she said the words, sent a chill down my spine, there was so many underlying tones in the last statement that activated my fight or flight response.
“Milord, this is Bellenae, she’s a Nature Elf, from...where are you from again?”
“Hasoar, within the Great Expanse Forest. Greetings Lord.” I went to the edge of the grate and looked down, but there was nothing to see for it was far too dark. “Oh, a mut I see how exceptional, is that Spectrum I see in you, or are you always so radiant.” I had to give it to her, she was polite.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Bellenae. I do not know which...” I said as I bent down. When my hand touched the stone, I froze in shock when the stone screamed out its warning. NATURE SAGE! She will kill you! Run, leave her to die. Run NOW!
“My, my, and a speaker to rocks. How nice, you are full of surprises lord.” I saw movement within the darkness and a pair of glowing green eyes appeared out of the gloom. “It is said that our two elements are mortal enemies, we of Nature and you of Earth. Always at odds, yet in need of one another. Interesting, do you not agree?”
“I had no idea I had enemies.” Answered her after a moment, once the shock from the warning wore off. “Not that I consider you one, not unless you wished me or mine, harm.”
“I wish nothing of the sort. I only wish, Lord, is to be rid of my current circumstances in life, as you can see. I am not one for cold stone and darkness. Give me light and life, and I am a very happy elf.”
“Can we release her?” Brandon vibrated with excitement. “The retainers are gone and most of the people. She’s really nice, milord, as you see. She won’t hurt anyone.”
“Yes, lord, I will not hurt a single soul, unless they wish hurt upon me.” I didn’t like how she twisted my own words.
I stood from the grate, the stone’s warning still echoing within my head. “Let me think on it, while I do believe you, Lady Belenae, I do not trust you. There is a reason why you were put here in this prison and I will not let out someone that will cause harm upon my people.”
“Oh, so wise mut. You are part Spectrum afterall.” I saw more movement like she was getting comfortable. “Will you hear my side, Lord? Or do you wish to just cast off a helpless elf to the fates?”
“I do not appreciate your passive aggressiveness. But yes, I will hear why you are here, in this pit.”
“It is a simple tale, not much in the of an epic ballad. I am going to kill Lord Aerathrel and his entire family. Then I will drain his city of life and return the trees he enslaved to their rightful growth patterns.”
“Um, that’s what you’re going to do when you get out, what did you do to get put in there?’
“Oh, I was attempting to do just as I said, only I should have killed them first. My priorities were a little askew. Next time, I will be sure to get it right.” The promise within the voice made her intent perfectly clear.
“Well, then we have our first problem. For I am married to Aylana, and I do not wish for her to be killed, in fact. I wish to take her from this forsaken Island and be done with the MRA for good. Enjoy your time in the hole.” As I was about to turn away, I heard.
“Aylana, then, I can guarantee her safety, from me at least. Surely, what does one Elf Maiden matter to me? It is the Lord and his heir I want dead, mayhap her sister. Your wife, is the only one who I have not found insult with.”
I smirked, “nice try with the sweet words and buttered promises. I grow tired of Elven half-truths and meanings within meanings.”
“You have been wronged just as I have. Name the insolent wretch and I will bring you their head, as proof of my honor. Of course, you would have to let me out to do so.” When I didn’t answer, she changed tactics. “An oath, pact if I must. By Nature’s harvests, I swear, not to harm you or yours. Not your wife, not your people, and if I must, then I was act as aide until such time as I can fulfill my promise to you. We will show the world that Nature, and Earth, can get along.”
“Then your oath is wrong, Sage. For if you acted as my aid, you would be my servant, not my equal.”
“Curse be the Spectrums, is it my fate to die in this hole?!”
“Could be,” I answered her. “Or you could stop playing word games and just make an honest promise. Whether you get out of this pit is of little concern to me, what does concern me, is that my wife is fighting in a war, against her own kind. For what, stupid politics and debt? No Nature Sage, I don’t need word games right now, what I need is help. I know the enemy closes in, an enemy we both share. While I know little about the different kinds of elves, I do know that Nature does not get along with any other of their kin.” I thought back on her words.
“You seem to know a lot.” Her sarcasm was not lost on me.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think.” I countered her. “The city is almost completely deserted, if Aerathrel is not dead yet, he will be soon. And to be frank, I could use your help with a little issue I have been having with the trees around here. What I need from you is your help in this, and your help in protecting those dear to me. If you can do that, without word games that will cause mistrust amongst us, I will free you.”
“Way to take all the fun out of life.” She considered my words for a moment, “as much as I would love to twist your words against you for the fun of it, I fear we are at an accord. I will help you, I will fight with you, and you will set me free. Not just from this pit, but from the slavers chains as well.”
“I know how to release my slaves, but not someone else's.” I thought out loud. “If I must purchase you to do it, then I will. You have my word, on my goddess I swear it.”
“Then free me, Lord, and let us make ready for war.”
Chapter Sixteen
“To understand an Arcane Elf, first you must shove your head up your own anus.” Belenae said as she placed her frail hand on the wooden street. “They are fools, seeking that which is not theirs to know, for only they can take a beautiful, healthy life source and curse it to do their bidding. Yes, they call it singing, but it is a nasty song, one of torture and force. I am sorry old one, your roots are strong and grow deep, I will make them pay for what they have done to you, as Nature as my witness, I will make them pay.” She closed her light green eyes and I could feel the power she used. It made my skin crawl, all magic did, and I really did not like it.
When her eyes opened, she turned her pretty, yet dirt face toward me. “It is as you suspect. While this tree once nurtured the land with his fallen leaves, the Arcane Elves have twisted him, forced him to do their bidding and poisoned him in the process. In this, the poison has spread. I fear you will find all the tree cities much the same.” She rose to her filthy feet. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a need to freshen up.”
“Brandon, show her where she can bathe and get her feed. Avashay, you go too.” They hurried off and I was left with Torga standing next to me. “Now, what to do about you?”
I was almost out of Elixir’s and I would have to face her at some point. Time was running short, there was no telling how long Aerathrel could hold out, or if he was still alive. But there was blood on the wind and the smell of death in the air. We did not have much time, and if she didn’t see eye to eye with me, I feared I would have to kill her.
Checking the settings on the control devices, I had her sit down as I wove her shackles in a chair. I couldn’t take enough precautions when it came to this female Harekin, I had seen her fight and she could wipe the floor with all of us without breaking a sweat. I watched as the Elixir started to fade and her red eyes started to clear. “Hello Torga, remember me.”
“I’ll KILL YOU!” She bashed her arms against the shackles and I dialed up the control devices.
“None of that now, I saved you, why have such animosity toward me? You, dear girl were headed for the mines.” It was a lie, but one that I saw registered with her. Not even Brandon knew the truth.
“I am here because of you. Vexi threw me to the wolves to save her own skin. None of this wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you.” It was interesting to see a rabbit faced creature snarl.
“None of this would have happened if your sentries were better at their jobs. It’s not nice to project their failings on me. I was a slave, much like yourself right now. I saw the opportunity to run during the chaos and I took it. How can you blame me for what Vexi did to me, you know it was bullshit just as much as I do? She didn’t lose a single silver from me, yet she tortured me. Why?”
“You needed to learn your place, you were a bad slave.” She spat at me.
“No shit, I am a Lord, not a slave.”
“That’s not possible. Lords can’t be slaves.” I pulled out my signet ring and showed her. “You lie, you must have stolen that.”
“Nope, had it with me the whole time in fact. I am Lord Jaeger Persik, you might better know me as the brother to Blear, King of the Dusk Lands.” I didn’t know bunnies could growl?
“What do you plan to do with me, extract your revenge on me?”
“Not actually.” I stood and drew the sword. I placed it across my knees for her to see when I sat. “Nice blade, yeah?”
Noble Farmer Page 20
