However, there were also a few injured elves who had been dragged free from the others and taken to one side. Their own fate, while not a particularly good one would not yet be finally sealed, as those deemed fit enough for purpose had their injuries treated. Those wounded but more severely so, were simply and ruthlessly put out of their misery, showing the elves that humans could also have a much darker side. The few that were allowed to survive had their legs bound to avoid any chance of them escaping and were heavily guarded. For the elves, this had been the first major loss since the initial invasion two centuries earlier, for the humans, the first victory.
Although clearly wanting to get involved, the members of the High Council, thankfully allowed the officers and magicians to take charge of the prisoners. While not a long-term arrangement, the three remaining elves would be kept under close scrutiny and under lock and key with the city walls. Brenion travelled back from the wall with one such elf, keeping a watchful eye on the elf’s face as the shock of what had just happened finally appeared to be hitting home.
“Bet you thought we were finished!” Brenion said smugly as the elf gazed up at the tall city walls.
“Well, I can tell you we have only just started!” he added, not even sure if that was exactly true but thought it had sounded the right thing to say in the situation.
With the morning sun slowly rising into what was a clear blue sky, the first of the pyres were lit, sending up plumes of thick, acrid black smoke. The smell of burning flesh drifted on the air as it blew over the city of Insgarth, something not missed by the injured elf being manhandled Into a small building outside the keep. Brenion and two guards went in with him while two more remained stationed at the doorway as an extra precaution. Inside the room was bare all aside from a single table in the middle with a chair positioned at each end. The two soldiers dragged the Dark elf over and sat him down on one seat, while Brenion took the other.
Brenion stared across the gap between them, trying to judge the type of character this being might have. With few humans having experience of dealing with Dark Elves, even Brenion was considered to be an expert compared to most.
“Now, we can either do this the easy way, or you can be obstinate and make life difficult for both you and me!” the Sorcerer finally said making sure the door was closed and the soldiers in position to stop any attempt the prisoner may have been having of trying to escape. The elf looked up from his seated position, tilting his head slightly, glaring those deep red eyes Brenion’s direction before making a scoffing sound that gave the answer he had expected.
Brenion placed his hands down flat on the table in front of him. Still a little red and sore from producing the flames that had helped defeat the elf and his comrades at the gates, he slowly smiled.
“You know, elves are not the only ones that can conjure up potions to affect the mind. We can do it too,” he added lifting his left hand down to his pocket and revealing a small glass phial.
“Now, I hear this is not very pleasant and the after effects are somewhat a little sketchy, but it will make you tell me whatever I want to know,” Brenion added waving the phial just slightly.
The dark elf looked across the table before finally speaking, “You will kill me just the same!” it spat before turning to look at the bare white walls.
“Probably,” Brenion suggested, indicating for the two soldiers to grab the prisoner and hold him still.
The elf tried to wriggle free as the two men both grabbed an arm, holding him firmly in place as Brenion stood up and slowly walked around the table. Deliberately taking slow steps just to annoy the prisoner more than anything else, he pulled the cork from the glass bottle.
“Pull his head back,” Brenion asked one fo the soldiers, who duly obliged.
Without further delay or melodramatics, Brenion grabbed the clammy dark skin of the elf’s face forcing an opening in its mouth before pouring the contents inside. To make sure the elf couldn’t spit them back out, Brenion held one hand firmly over the elf’s mouth and the other he used to pinch its nose.
“Now if you want to breathe, which your body will do anyway, you’re going to have to swallow that potion,” Brenion added.
To his credit, the elf managed to hold its breath for twenty or more seconds before it eventually had to concede and swallow what was in its mouth to allow another breath of air. Happy that was done without too much fuss, Brenion wiped his hands on his cloak before slowly turning about and heading back to his own chair. Knowing the drug would only take a few minutes to work, Brenion ran through the questions he needed to ask, but make sure he worded them in a way that did not allow the elf to answer truthfully, but misguidingly.
“What is your name?” Brenion asked after a couple of minutes. The elf clearly was not himself as his head wobbled slightly from side to side, giving the appearance that he might be drunk, and despite evidently not wanting to answer the question eventually replied.
“Herick!” came the answer.
“Really? What a stupid sounding name!” Brennion mocked, before asking a few more personal details to make sure the potion was working as planned. The elf was apparently twenty-five years old and had been shipped over six years ago, having been injured in another elven conflict in a land that Brenion had never heard of. This answer gave Brenion food for thought, even though it was not the information he needed to get, he felt it important nonetheless and decided to get a few further details on this other nation.
Using a lead pencil to take notes down on a small pad, Brenion built up quite a picture of two other places in the world where the Dark Elves were currently involved in wars. Apparently, it was only the humans that had capitulated so easily, all those years ago. However, it was also keeping the humans under control that allowed the elves to fight these wars. Not only was there a constant supply of humans to fight for them, but more importantly the elves were dependent on them for supplies; something that Brenion and others had only assumed to be the case before.
Happy the potion was working as intended, Brenion knew he needed to gather information about the moment, rather than something that might prove useful far in the future. Herick had apparently been based at Crendon, the outpost he had by-passed a couple of weeks ago on their way to Insgarth. However, knowing that many soldiers were not based there, Brenion enquired to where the others had come from and was shocked by the result. Knowing that over a hundred Elven soldiers had been dispatched from Gashek to follow the scent of a magical trial was certainly something he had not known about. Although aware wraiths could detect magic when it was being used, or if close enough, in a person, Brenion was not aware the strange creatures could pick up on where it had been used. This was something he was certain the High Council would make a big deal of later, and although he didn’t have to tell them, knew it was too important not to.
The fact this elven army had arrived on their doorstep was clearly down to his doing when he had brought Liana to the safety of Insgarth. Although the wraiths had never picked up any trial before, Brenion wondered whether it perhaps Liana they had detected. The girl was certainly powerful, and perhaps, as a result, left a stronger mark that could be picked up on; something he would have to discuss with his fellow magicians before handing his findings over to the Council.
Herick coughed and spluttered, and Brenion knew his time was almost up. As effective as the potion was in forcing the drinker to speak the truth, his prisoner was now starting to show the first of the side-effects. Already the left side of Herick’s face was starting to fall as if losing control of the facial muscles. Perhaps another ten minutes and the elf would lose the ability to speak, and within another ten the prisoner's heart would fail. As a result, Brenion started asking the questions with a little more urgency and keeping them simple and straight to the point. Within a few minutes, he had managed to build up a decent picture of the size of force they had fought and more importantly the one that was left in Crendon; something else that would also have to be discussed.
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br /> Seeing the elf struggling to stay upright and noticing the distinct lack of coordination, Brenion knew the potion had run its course. Herick would die very soon, and if left to run its course would probably do so in great pain and discomfort. Showing that humans were perhaps a little more caring Brenion got to his feet and turned to one of the guards, “Put him out of his misery,” he said before heading to the door. Brenion stopped and glanced over his shoulder, “Oh and take the body to the Magician’s building they will want to examine the effects of their potion,” he added before leaving the building and heading back across the yard.
With a head full of new information and several pages of his pocketbook filled with important notes, Brenion made his way to the home of the magicians. He needed to report there first with his findings and discuss what he had learned. The fact that he had been the one responsible for leading the elves straight to Insgarth, although not knowingly would no doubt have further consequences, but for now they should consolidate and discuss what they had learned.
Unfortunately for Brenion The High Councillor and two other members were already sitting and waiting for him, with two of the other magicians and two officers of their small army. Apparently, Osrik had questioned one of the other prisoners, using the same method as Brenion and had just finished giving his account. Being as he wished to know what Brenion had learned Osrik then took up a position against the far wall of the room they were using.
“Please take a seat Brenion,” the High Councillor said as if leading these proceedings. Brenion immediately looked at the two magicians sat either side of the councillor as if looking for a reason as to why this man was here at all.
“Don’t worry Brenion, we asked the council to be represented,” Rharena explained.
Rharena was the most senior of all the magicians in Insgarth and was looking every part the frail elderly lady she was. However, her body may have been showing signs of age, but her mind was still as sharp as a tack and was certainly not a person to take lightly should you ever cross her. Rharena was also probably the only magician with whom the council had any time for, and was probably the reasoning for them being there now.
“Please start Brenion,” Rharena asked waving a bony hand his direction. “And don’t worry, our friends of the council understand this is not a trial or inquisition of how the Dark Elves found there way here,” she added. Brenion grimaced slightly as he instantly deduced from those words that Osrik had clearly discovered the same as he had.
Shuffling somewhat nervously through his pages of notes, Brenion decided he would start with what the others clearly already knew. The elf he had questioned had indeed revealed that the wraiths had picked up on a scent that was apparently left when magic was used.
“Yours!” One of the council members said snidely.
Rharena quickly jumped to Brenion’s defence, stating that it could have been any magician and that it was just unfortunate it was Brenion who had been returning at that time. “Moreover, if you interrupt again, I will exclude all of you from this meeting!” she added glaring the councillor’s direction.
“Please continue, Brenion,” Rharena then said sounding much calmer.
After casting the council member, a quick glance Brenion proceeded as asked, telling them that the force had come all the way from Gashek, as well as the entire elven contingent from Crendon.
“Really?” Osrik said from across the other side of the room, “Now, that I didn’t know, and is very interesting.”
Osrik though quickly lowered his head as Rharena glared over his way as if a warning for him not to interrupt again. Brenion was about to start again when the High Councillor gingerly raised a hand as if asking permission to say something.
“What is it?” Rharena said sounding somewhat despairingly.
“Sorry to interrupt again, but may I ask why do you both appear so excited by the fact the elves have come from Crendon?”
Rharena was clearly not happy with the question, but Brenion gave her a signal to say he didn’t mind explaining it. Moreover, it would likely save him time later when he sought the council’s approval to go on the offensive. The fact that there were barely a handful of elves left at the outpost, so close to where they were, could give them an opportunity to start their fight.
“From the information gathered, I understand it is now mainly manned by humans.”
“Humans that are under the control of the elves!” One of the councillors added, sounding somewhat sardonic in their reply. Brenion just ignored the remark and continued on with his explanation.
When Brenion had eventually revealed everything he had learned from his interrogation of the prisoner, he stood to leave. However, just as he was about to head for the door, the High Councillor called him back.
“You hope for us to expand our borders and take control of the outpost?”
Brenion nodded and confirmed that had been his line of thinking.
“Surely the humans there are nothing more than mindless drones and would have to be killed?”
Brenion shrugged, admitting that may well be the case, but his wife Elynia knew something of the Elven magic potion used and thought it might be possible to heal away.
“Using magic of course?” The high Councillor asked.
“Of course,” Brenion replied wondering where this line of questions was suddenly leading to.
“Now that is interesting!” The councillor eventually said looking deep in thought before indicating that he had finished asking all the questions he needed to.
Brenion walked off down the corridor, heading for the exit when Osrik caught up from behind him.
“You know what he’s thinking don’t you?” The younger man asked.
“Probably something that involves getting my family and me out of Insgarth, by any chance,” Brenion replied sounding far calmer than his colleague had thought he might be.
“Oh!, You have already deduced that,” Osrik replied sounding somewhat deflated that perhaps he hadn’t been as smart as he had first thought.
“And you’re happy with that? Brenion, being sent out alone is bad enough but to have your family out of the protection of Insgarth is something else,” Osrik replied having to walk quickly to keep up with his friend.
“You plan to take Liana too don’t you? Which means…I’ll have to go as well, at least for a while.”
Brenion suddenly stopped and turned to look at Osrik with a big grin on his face, “I think we have planted enough of an idea in the High Councillor’s mind for him to work it all out.”
“You meant for him to do this?”
“Of course, it’s the only way he’ll ever agree with us going on the offensive. Hopefully, this will be the start of something much bigger.”
Chapter 23.
In Gashek, Saedor was still coming to terms with the latest news. One of his commanders had been killed by a human in a small village to the south. While revenge had been swift and brutal, with all the men in that village being put to death, the culprit had gotten away with it and fled. Moreover, Saedor was also becoming concerned as to the whereabouts of an entire force of soldiers that had ventured eastwards with another of his generals. Although he had received a message over a week ago saying they were tracking some magical scent, that had been the last he had heard from them. Naturally, it might just mean that they had not yet had the opportunity to send a messenger bird, but the longer it went without any news, the more Saedor was convinced something untoward had happened.
The fact one of his leading officers had been murdered by a human was bad enough, losing over a hundred soldiers would prove to be a disaster. In over two centuries there had not been any uprising or backlash of note, and although Saedor had always been warned that it might one day happen, he had always thought that he had kept the humans subdued enough to avoid anything like that happening. Of course, this may have just been a one-off incident, and his troops would all come trotting back to Gashek any day now, but Saedor felt that something was st
irring, although could not put his finger on it. Whether it was just an over-reaction or something more, he guessed only time would tell, but he was not going to take any risks. Despite only the one incident of note in the village known as Tepton, Saedor had ordered his soldiers to be watchful for any signs of humans not adhering to their Elven rule.
While hundreds of young human men were taken, trained and sent away to fight in the many wars of the Elven empire, some were used much closer to home. While he did not doubt the effectiveness of the magical potions they were forced to take, Saedor still did not trust them completely. However, with more important battles to be fought elsewhere, he was left with no option but to utilise them to make the numbers up. With his own elven soldiers, either being young, raw recruits sent over from the homeland or those who were ready to hang up their swords and retire, Saedor knew any major uprising could be challenging. The problem with keeping an entire race of people subjugated to your rule was keeping them sufficiently downtrodden, so they never had the opportunity to rise up. With the human lands being quite substantial and his forces very thinly spread, keeping the balance of control was not an easy thing to achieve. Kill too many humans, and there would not be enough to work the fields and mines, not enough and some might get the hint the elves were not the all-conquering race they perceived themselves to be.
Although sure his request would be refused, Saedor had sent a message back to his older sibling requesting more elven soldiers be sent to reinforce the human lands. While he did not want to give his brother the impression trouble was afoot, Saedor thought it best to err on the side of caution and had made it sound more a suggestion than an urgent request. After staring blankly out from his balcony for quite some time, lost in a moment of deep thought, Saedor eventually turned and ventured back inside. Such was the depth of his musings that he barely even felt the chilly early morning breeze and the fact that he was dressed in only his nightgown. Knowing he needed to take his mind off things, Saedor headed for his bed where the young human female he had used the previous night was still sleeping. He afforded himself a wicked smile as he watched her for a while before removing his gown and slipping onto the bed alongside, knowing just what he needed to give his mind a rest.
Reign of the Dark Elves: Book One : The Sorcerer Page 19
