“We are sorry for any problems we may have caused,” Kuro told Olmera. “We’ll be leaving. We hope you have a good day.”
“Thank you for the enlightening conversation; please feel free to come back tomorrow,” Olmera said, walking with them to the door.
“If we’re still in town, we will,” Becky smiled.
Chapter Twelve
The guards were marching away from the shop, with the Captain keeping a firm grip on the Sergeant, as they stepped out. “I’d say she’s going to get reamed, and not in the fun, pleasant way, either,” Becky snickered.
“She deserves it,” Alvin said, watching the guards turn a corner. Shaking his head, he took a good look at the streets. “I’m surprised at how flat and straight the roads are. They’re pretty wide, too.”
“They are laid out in accordance to the Queen’s laws,” Kuro said as she started to lead them toward the next crafter’s shop. “The King’s cities are laid out in a much more chaotic manner. I hear it was to help them with their mana flow or something similar.”
“Hmm,” Alvin murmured. “Are all the streets paved with stone?”
“They are here, as they are close to one of the major quarries for the Queendom,” Kuro said. “Nearly every town and city’s streets are stone paved to help trade flow more easily.”
“The Queen sounds very forward thinking,” Becky murmured.
“She is,” Kuro nodded. “A few hundred years ago, she mandated all roads be built up to keep them free of being bogged down. She went so far as to make the main roads paved, starting from the capital and going out from there.”
“How is that being done?” Alvin asked.
“Slowly. Many of the captured King’s Elves are put to work in the quarry or on the roads. Anyone who commits a serious crime is also used on the workforce.”
“That’s about what I would have expected,” Alvin nodded. “How do they keep the workers from running?”
“The chains,” Kuro said. “The same kind that are binding the recently captured men. There are a handful of guards with each work group to keep an eye on them.”
Kuro stopped outside a smithy next. The sound of a hammer striking metal echoed from the back of the enclosed courtyard. “This is Istel’s Ironhand,” she told them. “Istel can be a bit rough to speak with normally, but I think you will get along with her.”
Alvin and Becky exchanged an amused glance as they followed Kuro into the shop. Much like Olmera’s shop, the front had a number of items on display. All of the weapons were behind glass, and a light-skinned Elven male was standing behind the counter, staring at them in shock.
“My two charges would like to speak with Istel,” Kuro told the man. When he failed to react, Kuro sighed and slapped the counter hard, causing him to flinch back, his eyes finally going to her. “Istel will wish to speak with them; go get her.”
Backing away, the Elf turned and bolted through the door behind him, leaving it open in his haste. The sound of the hammer increased drastically with the door open. After a moment, the sound ceased, leaving an almost ominous silence ringing in their ears.
Alvin blinked as a female Elf came through the door. He had come to think of all Elves, especially the females, as being slight of build, but the one who came through the door with a hammer in hand was almost Amazonian in stature.
“Who is making my servant fearful?” her voice was full of anger, and the deepest Alvin had heard from an Elf.
“It wasn’t my intent,” Kuro said, stepping toward Istel. “He froze and didn’t listen. I asked for him to see if you could spare some time for two visitors from the other side of the Gate.”
Istel’s eyes went to Kuro, a look of disdain filling them, before looking to Alvin and Becky again. “Demons… I doubt we’ll have much to talk about.”
“Why does everyone keep calling us demons?” Alvin finally asked the question that had been bothering him.
“There is lore from the ancient past of beings looking very much like you storming through a hole in the fabric of reality. They slaughtered and plundered a huge swath before returning to the rift. Once they left, it vanished. That was one of the factors that started the King and Queen on their path of war,” Kuro said.
“The King took a number of the demons for playthings,” Istel snorted. “Men only think with their smaller heads.”
Alvin shrugged; he couldn’t deny that too much. “Not all men and not all the time, but broadly true. We’d like a chance to talk with you about your craft, if possible.”
Istel eyed him, then turned to look at Becky. “Does he always speak for you?”
“No,” Becky said. “We’re an equal couple. He just took the lead here. Have you been having problems with your craft over the last week?”
Istel went still, eyes latching onto Becky. “Funny you should ask. Yes, I’ve been having great difficulty over the last few days. I take it you know what the cause is?”
“Yes,” Becky replied casually. “Do you have time to talk?”
Setting the hammer on the counter, Istel stared at Becky for a long moment and snorted. “Most people look away from me. You’ve got a spine, it seems. Give me a couple of minutes to set my work aside properly. Aizik, get the parlor ready with drinks and food. It was about time for me to stop anyway.” The Elf from earlier, who had been peering out of the doorway behind her, took off without speaking. Istel glanced behind her to watch him go and nodded. “Look over my wares while you wait. Maybe we can do some business.” Without waiting for a reply, Istel strode back through the door, leaving them alone in the front.
“She’s blunt,” Alvin chuckled, “and kind of abrasive. I like her.”
Becky snickered, “Mousie called that one right.”
Kuro smiled at Becky then went to look over the display cases. “Istel is one of the best weaponsmiths in the Queendom. She came out here because this is the town closest to the King’s lands, which gives her a better chance of getting more King’s Elves to help her with her craft.”
“She needs a lot of them?” Becky asked, looking at a beautifully made mace.
“She has a tendency to break them, it is said,” Kuro replied slowly, looking at the open door.
“She’s built like a brick house,” Alvin chuckled. “Not surprised if men break under her. How do they help her with her work, though?”
“She’d have to explain,” Kuro said. “I just know what the rumors about her say. We didn’t stay in town long when we first came through to establish the camp by the Gate.”
“That makes sense,” Alvin shrugged. “It’s not important, so I’ll put that question aside unless it comes up naturally.”
It was about five minutes before Istel reappeared. She looked refreshed and her leather apron was missing, showing that she was indeed the most generously built Elf Alvin had seen. “If you will follow me,” Istel said, lifting up part of the counter for them to pass through.
The room they were brought to was much like the room Olmera had hosted them in. The main difference was the variety of weapons displayed on the walls. Istel took her seat in a slightly larger chair, which looked specially made for her, while others took the remaining seats. She rang a bell and the Elf from earlier came in with a small cart. He quickly laid out plates of meat and cheeses, then opened a large bottle of wine and poured them all a glass. Once he was done, he retreated from the room.
“Your servant seems to have gotten over his fear,” Alvin said.
“He has been reassured,” Istel smiled.
“Reassured?” Becky asked.
“Reassured that if you try anything, I will chop you into feed for the livestock,” Istel said calmly as she picked up slices of meat and cheese.
“You’re very confident in your abilities,” Alvin said as he followed her lead. “We won’t test you, but we aren’t as easily dealt with as you might think.”
“I have no doubt that demons have tricks,” Istel replied, “but you have no real weapons to speak of. A fe
w small blades, the strange small crossbow on your belt, and that is all. No swords, hammers, bows, or anything terribly dangerous. I have withstood enough attacks in my life to know that it would tax a person without a weapon to kill me.”
“That was before,” Becky said, sipping the dark wine. “Your whole world changed over the last week; it’s not just your craft that’s been affected.”
Istel nodded slowly. “What will this information cost me?”
Lips pulling up into a smile, Alvin chuckled. “Nothing, except maybe some goodwill. I have a feeling we’re going to need some friends, and as you’re a well-respected weaponsmith, it seems like having you for a friend would be a good thing.”
“I see,” Istel murmured. “An unusual way of doing business. I was expecting a demand for one of my best weapons.”
“We surprise people,” Becky added. “Let me explain the basics and we’ll work from there. First, imagine a book with all of your physical abilities and skills written in it.”
It was much later when Istel led them back to the shopfront. Istel suddenly stopped in the doorway, keeping them from exiting or seeing what had caused her to stop. “Can I help you?” she said, her tone carefully neutral.
“I’m looking for your visitors. I was told they were seen entering here and haven’t left yet.”
“Why do you need them?” Istel asked.
“Champion Skyfall is requesting their attendance for dinner,” the voice said, sounding frustrated.
“Is that a Captain of the Guard?” Alvin asked Istel.
Istel looked back at him. “It is Captain Shadowhand. Did you wish to speak with her?”
“She didn’t seem bad earlier,” Alvin shrugged. “Besides, it sounds like Skyfall wants to talk, and that should probably happen.”
Istel moved into the room, allowing the others to exit the hall. “Stop by tomorrow, I want to talk again.”
“We’ll have to see what we can do,” Becky said.
“Have a good evening, or as good as you can,” Istel said.
“Thank the Queen I found you,” Captain Shadowhand said, frustration giving way to relief. “Champion Skyfall has requested that you come to Matriarch Bloodnight’s house for dinner.”
“And also to ask us for things, I don’t doubt,” Alvin snorted. “When is dinner?”
“When you arrive,” Shadowhand replied.
“Might as well,” Becky said, “isn’t like we’re going to keep visiting crafters tonight anyway.”
“Fair enough,” Alvin said. “Lead on, Captain.”
Chapter Thirteen
Alvin raised an eyebrow at the dozen guards on the street, most of whom he recognized from earlier. The Captain didn’t pause, walking right past the guards and starting to lead them down the street.
“Why the squad?” Alvin asked.
“To make sure no one does anything stupid,” the Captain replied. “You’ve caused quite a stir here in town. Everyone is talking about the two demons that are sightseeing.”
Alvin waved to a young Elven child that was watching them from a window. The kid immediately dropped below the level of the window, and Alvin chuckled. “Out of curiosity, do your legends about demons say that if kids don’t behave, the demons will come back to take them away?”
The Captain twitched, but her words were even, “Yes. Even I can still recall my mother’s stories.”
“We’re the boogieman,” Becky murmured. “I’m surprised that Olmera and Istel agreed to talk to us. Though it does explain Istel’s helper’s reaction a bit more.”
The walk through the town was quiet and boring, but Alvin could feel all the eyes on them. Approaching Matriarch Bloodnight’s manor, Alvin’s lips pursed as he picked out the two dozen guards surrounding it.
“Do Matriarchs always have so many guards?” Alvin asked.
Captain Shadowhand eyed him briefly. “It was deemed a wise precaution.”
“For us or your fellow citizens?” Becky asked.
Shadowhand didn’t respond as she came to the closed gate. “I have the visitors that Champion Skyfall asked after.”
The one Shadowhand spoke to had a higher rank, as best Alvin could tell from her uniform. “You are Gothy, Hero, and Kuro Lightskin?”
“We are,” Kuro replied.
“The Matriarch and the Champion are waiting for you,” the guard said, one of her subordinates opening the gate. “Please, follow me.”
The three followed the woman, who knocked briskly on the door. An ancient Elf answered the door. His face was lined and wrinkled, and Alvin wondered just how old he was. “The guests? Follow me, please,” the man said, turning and walking down the entry hall.
Following the elder, Alvin cleared his throat. “I’m curious; you’re the first older Elf I’ve seen. How old are you?”
“That is a very rude question to ask, sir,” the Elf replied stiffly.
“Good to know. Is it also rude to ask why kids seem to be so rare?” Alvin asked with a chipper voice.
The elder Elf came to an abrupt halt, turning slowly to glare at Alvin. “It is.”
“Then I won’t ask that, either,” Alvin smiled.
“Hero,” Becky sighed. “I think Jarvis being like a butler was a bad influence on you for interacting with real butlers.”
Turning around with an affronted air, the butler led them further into the manor. They reached a set of double doors that opened by sliding to either side, and the butler knocked once before opening one and showing them in.
Skyfall and another female Elf sat at a table conversing. They both stood up to greet the three new arrivals. Alvin blinked. Skyfall and the Matriarch were wearing evening dresses that covered them, but hinted at everything underneath. Skyfall wore a white dress that sparkled as she moved, the gems attached to the fine filigree shimmering in the chandelier light. Bloodnight’s dress was a match to Skyfall’s in all but color, reflecting deep red from the gems on it.
Becky stopped just inside the doorway, taking in the two women. “I didn’t know this was going to be a fancy dinner. We would have stopped at the inn and changed if we’d known.”
“We didn’t know if you travelled with such items, but felt it would be wrong of us not to put on our best for such distinguished guests,” Bloodnight said as she glided forward. “I’m Matriarch Alina Bloodnight, the ruler of Alinaholt.”
“I’m sure that Champion Skyfall told you, but I’m Gothy, he’s Hero, and she is Mousie,” Becky said simply.
“A pleasure,” Bloodnight smiled, bowing her head slightly to Becky before her eyes went up and down Alvin. “A pleasure indeed.”
“You called for us. I’m guessing dinner is just a pleasantry,” Alvin said bluntly.
Alina’s laugh was light. “Skyfall did say you were blunt and to the point. I see she has told me the truth of the matter. I will ask that business wait until after dinner, as I doubt you’ve had a meal from our world prepared by an expert.”
“We haven’t,” Becky said, “and we would be glad to accept dinner.”
Alina motioned them to the table. “Please, be seated. Dinner might be a little slow, as I’ve reduced the staff tonight.”
“Understandable, since we’re apparently the monsters you use to keep your kids in line,” Alvin chuckled.
“Ah, so you’ve heard,” Alina said as she took her seat. “We hope that doesn’t cause any ill will.”
“We’re good,” Alvin chuckled.
“The first course, Matriarch,” another older Elf said, coming into the room from what turned out to be the kitchen door.
Conversation died off aside from small snippets about each different dish that was served. Alvin barely managed to keep a straight face when one of the dishes turned out to be something very much like Swedish meatballs. A line from an old show ran through his head: it’s a strange thing, but every sentient race has their own version of these Swedish meatballs. I suspect it’s one of those great universal mysteries that will never be explained, or would d
rive you mad if you were to ever learn the truth. Alvin missed part of the conversation about the next dish as he thought about that old show and made a mental note to pick it up for their base, thinking Becky might enjoy it.
The meal ended with a dessert that was unlike anything he had eaten before and would have been hard-pressed to even describe, outside of creamy. With a satisfied sigh, Alvin pushed the empty dish away from him a moment before Becky pushed hers away.
“My compliments to your staff, Matriarch Bloodnight,” Alvin said. “Some of that was a new experience, and some was very reminiscent of our world.”
Elven Accord Page 9
