“I found a way to change places with one of my sisters, to try and figure out where we are. If I can get to the priests, I can get their portal and take us back.” Talila explained.
“To what?” Satana asked, “Why would we ever go back?”
Talila didn’t say a word and just shrugged looking at Dracon.
“She couldn’t talk me out of it, and neither will you.” Dracon stood up.
“She couldn’t talk you out of being a fool?” Satana said with a chuckle of disbelief, “What is wrong with you? We can never go back!”
“I want my…” He started to growl, then looked to the open window where Katlin was sitting once again.
“Excuse me,” he said when Dracon noticed him, “The carriage is here. The lady will need to coax her large friend into the cage before we can leave.”
“We’ll be down directly, thief.” Talila snarled then started toward the adjoining room, “Satana, will you help me carry Um’Vec’s bracers?”
Satana looked at Dracon then at Talila leaving the room, “Sure.” She replied and followed her.
“Dracon, pack.” Talila ordered.
“Yeah, pack.” Satana repeated. Once through the door, Satana shut it behind her.
“I imagine that’s where all the action will be?” Katlin mused.
“Get out of my window.” Dracon growled then turned to gather their belongings.
Talila picked a bloody towel up from the floor then swirled it into one of the buckets. Satana picked up both bracers then dropped them into the second bucket with a splashing thud, one at a time.
“You have every reason to be angry, Satana,” Talila started, “but your anger is misdirected. It was his own family that did this to us, his own mentor who attacked him. You’re angry with me but you saw them, the same as I did. An army of your countrymen, in rows, marching to come kill us all. Those who you held so dear are the ones who deserve your anger for their betrayal. I have been loyal-”
“I miss my friend, Talila,” Satana blurted, “I feel a lot of guilt because I was in Qinkas when everything was falling apart at home. I selfishly wanted adventure. I turned him down when he asked me to stay and be his advisor.” Satana stared into the bucket as she spoke, “I admit, I don’t know you or your sisters. Or what was going on between you and Dracon, I didn’t care. I tasted adventure and I thought I could have a new life. So, I left, back to Sumia. I thought Dracon could have the life he deserved, as King of Ganlin, and without a war to fight, maybe I could find a dream of my own.”
“Adventure, well into our old age, a dream come true,” Talila whispered, “It was Dracon’s dream too, once.”
“We should have never gone back.” Satana muttered, “Venalina was dead when I came home and my world… our world, was upside down. Everyone I’ve known my whole life was coming to kill us. Every time I look at you, I see her face. I don’t know how it’s possible, but the two of you look so much alike, it hurts to look at you. So many times, I’ve almost called you Venalina.” Satana smiled nervously.
Talila looked down ashamed. She wanted so badly to tell Satana that Venalina lived. She wanted to tell them all.
“I understand, but you act as if it were me and my sisters that brought this on, it’s not fair. How could we have done any of it?” Talila asked, “We were lost in the grandeur of his palace and being the beloved of the king and queen, free, like we had never been before.”
“I know it wasn’t your fault. I’m angry about all of it, and my friends are dead. I wish I could have been there, maybe…” Satana started shaking her head, “I don’t know.”
“Someone planned what happened, maybe you could have done something? I just wish you would judge me for what I do, what I’ve done. If you can’t treat me as a friend, can you at least stop treating me as an enemy. I love him. I love Venalina. I serve him and her memory. I will never give you a reason to doubt it. I’m sure that won’t matter, because Dracon will make me trade places with one of my sisters, and you’ll never know if I would have been true to my word.” Talila chuckled. Satana chuckled along with her.
“I know, he’s not going to listen. His mind is already made up.” Satana walked closer to Talila and grabbed her hand briefly, then let it go, “Hey, I know I’ve never said it, but we are alive because of you, Talila.”
“Thank you.” Talila was shocked and moved, that Satana expressed her gratitude, she didn’t know how to respond, they were both quiet for an uncomfortable moment, “Whichever one of my sister’s it is who comes in my place, please look after her?” Talila finally asked, breaking the silence.
Satana took a deep inhale and let it out slowly, nodding her head yes.
Talila made the water in the buckets boil, then the one with the bracers in it started to steam. She walked over to the divan and grabbed one of the other towels.
“I can’t imagine how your pet is going to get along without you?” Satana asked.
Talila stopped, pausing in contemplation.
“I hadn’t considered that.”
Suddenly, Talila’s eyes went wide and she turned away from Satana, scrambling around the room in search of something. She ran to the basin on the dresser and threw up in it. Satana watched on, concerned, and completely surprised by her sudden sickness.
“Are you alright?” She asked, “I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that?”
On the grounds of the Pampered Palace, to the rear of the main building. Grik walked along the walkway to the stables. He could see a very ornate coach that awaited the Lady Talila and Lord Dracon. It was very plush. Grik pondered just how rich the nobles were that they were going to visit and what it was Katlin wanted from them. Surely, he meant to rob them. As he walked past the building to the open area between the inn and the stables, he saw both Katlin and Um’Vec. Katlin appeared to be trying to explain to Um’Vec why he needed to get in the large cage atop the back of a wagon, while Um’Vec stared at it, ignoring Katlin altogether. The wagon resembled a prisoner’s transport.
“Can you speak it’s tongue?” Katlin asked spotting Grik approaching them.
Um’Vec looked at Grik then snorted. Um’Vec took the equipment Grik was carrying, Grik’s and Satana’s gear, then started packing it on their horses.
“You don’t speak the tongue?” Grik asked.
“I speak many tongues, but not that one, Master Dwarf, or should I say Master Derro? I don’t want to offend you, by continuing to call you a dwarf?” Katlin tilted his head in a show of respect.
“You know of my kind?” Grik asked in return.
“I know of this creature too, however, it’s language eludes me.” Katlin took a few steps closer to Grik, watching Um’Vec continue to work, packing horses, “It’s important that he not ruin the night ahead of us.”
“Agreed.” Grik eyed Katlin then glanced at Um’Vec, “he’ll no listen to none except the lady.”
“Then I suppose we’ll have to wait for her?” Katlin turned and faced Grik.
“Aye,” Grik said, “S’pect she’ll be along directly.”
“I sense much tension in your group,” Katlin lowered his voice, “will there be a problem tonight?”
“Problems abound, thief, we’ll do our part, never you mind about that.” Grik looked at Um’Vec, “best keep ya distance from the likes of that one, he’s liable to tear ya arm off and cook it over a fire.”
“I imagine that to be a true statement.” Katlin chuckled, “Your lady is a sorceress?”
“She’s more than just that, boy, but never you mind about her, or the likes of any of us. You do what you bargained and don’t try to get too cozy with us.” Grik started over to where Um’Vec was.
Katlin laughed, “Cozy?”
Dracon walked up next to Katlin in the space Grik vacated.
“Where’s the carriage?”
“Oh, it’s more than just a carriage, Lord Dracon, it’s a coach of the most elegant-”
“How about you put your teeth together and just point?�
� Dracon stared at Katlin with a look that stifled the elf.
“Yes, of course.” Katlin pointed behind them.
Dracon had to walk around the wagon meant for Um’Vec to see the carriage. It was elegant and posh, just as Katlin said. It was stitched with blue fabric and looked like a pillow on wheels to Dracon. He chuckled, then spotted Satana coming from the inn’s side walkway, she was carrying Um’Vec’s bracers.
“Where’s Talila?” he asked alarmed.
“Don’t growl at me! She’s right behind me, I didn’t harm a hair on her pretty little head.” She looked over at the waiting carriage on the road, some thirty yards away, “Is that for you?”
“Yes.” Dracon looked over at the carriage again.
Satana whistled an ear-piercing whistle at Um’Vec and Grik. When they looked, Satana hurled Um’Vec’s bracers to him one at a time. He caught each then put them on. They were shinier than Dracon remembered. Um’Vec smacked his forearms together and they sparked from the metal on metal contact. He started to get riled like he wanted to fight.
“Settle down,” Grik said in the evil tongue, stepping back from the massive beast.
Um’Vec stretched his neck from side to side and rolled his shoulders. Talila was suddenly at Dracon’s side, he didn’t notice her walk up.
“Get in the cage, it’s time to know the pleasures of the vanquished.” Talila hissed.
Um’Vec started running toward them, Satana put her hand on the hilt of her sword, not understanding what was said. She only knew he was running right at them. He leapt passed them and into the cage on the back of the wagon. It dipped with the weight of the bugbear, the wood groaned and creaked, ready to crack. Katlin made himself scarce when Um’Vec began to move. Dracon watched curiously, he understood some of what Talila said. It confused him and made him wonder if she spoke a combination of both languages. But that was not what happened. He was beginning to understand the evil tongue.
No sooner had Um’Vec entered the cage a man called from atop the posh carriage. A man no one saw before, he, and another attendant, were awaiting the lord and lady’s arrival.
“My lord, my lady, are you ready to depart?” The man asked in a loud voice so that he could be heard from so far away.
“Good luck.” Satana punched Dracon’s shoulder, “Be careful.” She said to Talila who smiled and gave her a nod.
Um’Vec roared and shook the cage acting like a wild mindless beast. Talila laughed and put her arm in Dracon’s.
“You find that funny?” He asked, “If he loses control and breaks out-”
“He is putting on a show, Dracon,” Talila laughed, “If only you could understand him as I do? You would know, he is not a dumb beast. He is mighty, strong and very decisive, not unlike you?”
“Really?”
“Stop seeing him as a monster and see him as one of your men, maybe that would help? Maybe, if you treated him as equals you would begin to see the mind behind the monster?”
“Hmph.” Was all Dracon could think to say.
Talila walked to the cage and looked up at Um’Vec, putting her hand on the bars, he knelt down to her hand, “I don’t know what the night has in store, but I have no doubt you will have to fight for your life tonight. Survive at all costs, do you understand? That is how you serve me, win!” Um’Vec bowed his head to her hand and Talila slid her hand in between the bars to touch his forehead.
Talila returned to Dracon’s side and they walked toward the coach, after a few steps he said, “You are the mind behind the monster.”
“More than one, my love.” she smiled and patted his arm.
The attendant opened the door for Dracon and Talila to enter the carriage. Dracon turned back to ask who would be driving Um’Vec’s wagon but saw two men, armed with ax’s, climbing up into the front seat of the wagon and grabbing the reigns. Dracon could tell they were soldiers, curious.
“Is there a problem, my lord?” the attendant holding the door open asked.
“No.” Dracon held his arm out for Talila to enter the carriage first, “After you.”
“Thank you, my lord.” She stepped up into the carriage smiling.
Dracon followed her in, sitting across from her. The inside of the carriage was just as blue as the outside. Not only did it look like a pillow, but it felt like a pillow to sit in.
“Even in your city, I never saw such an opulent carriage.”
“My father…” Talila started to say, then looked out the window thoughtfully, letting her words die in the air. Dracon did not press her and remained quiet. Much of the ride was like that, Talila staring out the window in deep contemplation and Dracon watching her silently.
The trip took the entire afternoon, until dusk, they did not stop once in the five hours they were in the carriage. When they arrived at their destination the carriage simply stopped abruptly, then the door swung open.
“My lady, my lord.” The attendant said.
Talila stepped from the carriage first, aided by the attendant at the door. The carriage had stopped in the middle of a barren field, brown and dead, from lack of water and too much sun. Dracon was half in and half out of the carriage, not sure if he should get all the way out. He glanced at the attendant waiting for him to say they were stopping to take a break or to feed the horses. Once Dracon was at Talila’s side the attendant pointed away from the carriage door.
“Walk in that direction and you will arrive at your destination.” He climbed back atop the carriage which promptly pulled away from the couple.
“How far are we to walk?” Talila yelled after the carriage, “This isn’t proper attire for a field!”
Dracon chuckled; he could see the ire in her eyes. He extended his elbow to her, “Shall we?”
“You know it will be dark soon?”
“I do, but… I can see in the dark, can’t you? I mean, now that you’re a Vordalyn?” Dracon asked with his elbow still out for her to take.
“I can.” Talila smiled.
“I just hope Satana was able to follow us?” Dracon said and scanned the area.
“Where’s Um’Vec?” Talila suddenly asked.
“Let’s play their game and find out.” Dracon was not alarmed by the absence of the wagon with Um’Vec as its cargo.
Talila reluctantly put her arm in his and they walked in the direction they were pointed. It was a mere twenty paces, and the air shimmered around them as they continued walking. When the shimmer ceased, they found themselves in a garden full of people, some dancing, others talking in groups, dressed in the finest clothing. Music was playing from somewhere in the garden. The entire area was floored with the greenest grass and surrounded by a wall of manicured, leafy, hedges, that went on for as far as they could see in either direction to their left and to their right. Dracon looked over his shoulder and saw the hedges a few feet behind them and the field they were once in, had vanished. Talila looked at Dracon then at the people in the garden, comparing the silk and satin they wore to the black Drow clothes Dracon wore. She acted quickly and changed his clothes with a whip of her hand. She dressed him in a fine outfit that made his black hair stand out and the rest of him fit in, to match the other partygoers. It was just then, as if he suddenly lit up the area around them did Lord Vette take note of them and smile. He approached from a group nearby, with his arms out in a welcoming gesture.
“Ah, I see you’ve arrived!” he took Talila’s hand and kissed it, noticeably lingering, “There is going to be a line for you tonight, you are simply ravishing!”
“What did you say?” Dracon asked.
“Your attention, of course,” he looked at Dracon with a sly smile, “you shouldn’t be surprised, with a beauty like this on your arm, lord…”
“Dracon.”
“Lord Dracon, and the beautiful, effervescent, Lady Talila Preswynn, with skin as soft as a newborn.” Lord Vette returned his attention to Talila.
“You remembered my name, that’s something at least, but this field you had us deposi
ted in, it was not appropriate for this dress, or my time.” Talila feigned disgust.
“This is a private affair, Lady Talila, we don’t allow just anyone to attend.” Lord Vette stuck his elbow out for her to take, “This way, if you please, let me give you a tour of the nights festivities.”
“I hope there are drinks?” Talila smiled and let go of Dracon’s arm and took Lord Vette’s.
“Of course, my dear young thing.” Lord Vette ushered her away from Dracon rather quickly.
Dracon was not as distracted as he was when they first met Lord Vette. His blood boiled with jealousy watching him spirit her away from him. He followed, lagging them a few steps on purpose, inspecting the other lords and ladies, there were many. Dracon was surprised how many people were there, he wondered if they were all lords of the emperor’s court. Attendants roamed the garden with trays of drinks and appetizers. Lord Vette led Talila to an attendant who was serving another couple.
“Cosik, you old dog,” the man greeted Lord Vette then immediately eyed Talila, “What do we have here?” He took his wine from the tray then circled Talila and Lord Vette, inspecting Talila very closely, and very lasciviously, “Shall we trade now, or will there be a price involved for this one?”
“May I present the Lady Talila Preswynn.” Lord Vette held her hand out and stepped away from her so that the other man could get a good look at her.
“Give us a turn, would you my dear?” The man asked, Talila ignored the request and simply curtsied, “Preswynn, Preswynn?” the man pondered, “I don’t know any Preswynn’s”
“Apparently, she and her lot, are from a faraway kingdom?” Lord Vette smiled.
“Really, Cosik?” he asked leaning closer to Lord Vette, “Where do you find these people?”
“Her champion demolished Razor-tooth in one blow.” Lord Vette said.
“Is that right?” the man asked looking passed Talila at Dracon, “Is that him?”
“He’s a scrumptious beast of a man, isn’t he? Can I have him? So brutal, and that scar… how did you get it?” The woman raised her hand about to touch Dracon’s face.
Dracon and the Edge of the World Page 11
