The Elfmaid's Curse (The Elfmaid Trilogy Book 1)

by Warren Thomas

  The thought of Talar with the talisman's power gave her gooseflesh. The black-hearted bastard would be almost invincible. Indeed, it would take an army of wizards to stop him, and wizards rarely cooperated with each other. The few exceptions were the Court Mages of most kingdoms and powerful fiefs. Yet he infighting among them was said to be frightening.

  With that kind of power Talar probably could create his own empire. An empire ruled by magic and long living wizards. What army could defeat it? Could he reestablish the ancient Tyrasillian Empire? It relied heavily on magic and armies of wizards and witches. It took the Gods to destroy them.

  "You really know how to cheer me up when I'm down," Danica said, sliding back into a prone position.

  Elise smiled. "Cheer up, my Lady." She and Maeve roared with laughter at Danica's startled look. "I'll do everything in my power to assist you and your exotic friend."

  "As will I," Maeve said, blue eyes a-sparkle.

  Danica just smiled weakly. Even if she succeeded and recovered her body, she had a bad feeling that her friends weren't going to let her forget this — ever. She could already hear the jokes.

  Maeve stepped closer. She grinned with wicked delight, wagging her brows.

  "So, tell us, just how did you become a girl?" she asked, eyes afire with mischief. "And tell us every sordid detail of your time as a woman."

  Chapter 20

  Maeve slipped into her borrowed flat down the hall from Elise's. Snapping her fingers and pointing at an oil lamp, it immediately flared up and burned brightly. The flat was drafty and humid, doing little to brighten her mood. Pausing just inside the door, she frowned at the reception she'd received from Danica.

  At first Danica seemed surprised, which was to be expected, but then she turned all business! Gods, they were once lovers. Couldn't the "Danic" still in her at least acknowledge that fact somehow? Even a warm greeting would have sufficed.

  "He is cool towards me because I am a powerful sorceress now, and he's still just a simple mercenary," she said, lifting her chin. Then remembering that "he" was now a "she" brought a smile to her pretty oval face. "Gods, how Danic must be suffering! By the Gods, he'll never look upon women the same."

  His betrayal of her still stung. How could he have chosen her cousin over her? Then, when she confronted the two of them over it, and she and the two-timing harlot squared off with bared steel, he turned his back on both of them and began chasing some other tart.

  Maeve glanced back at the closed door wistfully. "But, Lyss damn me, I adore that bastard. I'm such a fool."

  Walking towards her bedroom, she started loosening the straps securing her Vikon armor. Once in the other room, she pulled the steel pin holding the breast cups together and shook everything off. It hit the floorboards with a metallic clatter, immediately forgotten. She spent a moment gently massaging her sore breasts, silently cursing the Vikon and their ridiculous tastes in armor and fashion. Finally, she struggled out of her embroidered thigh boots and leather breeches, and slipped into a white cotton dressing robe.

  Sitting on the edge of her narrow bed, she warily eyed the double-ringed pentacle chalked onto the floorboards in one corner. She hated dealing with demons, the devious hellions, but she had a few more questions to ask. Demons being inherently deceitful in their dealings with humans, she had to be very careful what she asked and how she asked it. Then double and triple check the answers.

  After pouring herself a glass of warm wine and downing it in one gulp, Maeve took a deep breath and knelt beside the pentacle. Blanking her mind, she visualized what she wanted and began chanting the first wards to hold the demon within the pentacle, and away from her throat. With the wards all in place, and double checked, she started on the elaborate sing-song chant that pulled the demon she wanted out of his own realm of existence and into her pentacle. His arrival was heralded by a gust of sulfurous air and vehement threats in a language she didn't understand.

  Opening her eyes, Maeve looked the three foot tall red-skinned, golden-horned demon over with a grim smile. The little monster was raging, as usual, threatening vile and hideous vengeance on her if she didn't free him immediately. She had set up wards powerful enough to hold a demon ten times his strength, so she was safe enough.

  "Oh, be quiet," she chided. "We both know you haven't the power to make good on any of your threats. I am your mistress, and must be obeyed."

  "I have already answered all your questions, barbarian!" Zagor'libongis snarled. "You are just too stupid to remember my answers!"

  "Don't you dare call me stupid, demon," Maeve warned, blue eyes burning with rage. "I am more than powerful enough to transfer you into the body of some small, helpless animal, and then torture it for years."

  Zagor'libongis hissed at her, causing Maeve to pull away involuntarily. He squealed with laughter at her cringe.

  "Bastard!" she cried, leaping to her feet.

  Drawing a simple rune in the air, Maeve spoke a Word of Power and sent a bolt into the suddenly screaming demon. With another quickly drawn rune, she chanted a short cantrip that prolonged the agony just long enough to get the demon to start begging for mercy.

  "Do not anger me again, little demon," Maeve warned through clenched teeth. "I'm known for my temper, and very quick response to any insult."

  The demon glared daggers at her a moment, then slowly bowed and asked, "How may I serve you, mistress?"

  "That's more like it," Maeve said. "I have questions about the goblin leading the urchins here in Allaria. Are there any other goblins assisting him?"

  "None, mistress."

  "Are there any other magical powers he possesses that will threaten me?"

  "Only if he lays hands on you, mistress," the demon admitted. His little black eyes twinkled with wicked delight. "Then all your wards will do you no good."

  "Yes, demon, I'm more than aware of how magic works," she said, eyes narrowing. "Now, again, his Gift is Persuasion only, right?"

  "That is true, mistress. No creature on your world can possess more than one Divine Gift."

  "And his regular magic is weaker than my own?"

  "Yes, mistress."

  "One last question," Maeve said. "Tell me about alternate escape routes out of his..."

  A knock at the door startled her. Who could it be? She grimaced thinking of the possibilities. The Vikon would want her out of their tenement now that they knew the truth. She was not a Vikon, or even a witch, but a much feared sorceress. They had to be convinced to let her stay there at least a while longer. If she was kicked out now it would ruin everything.

  Sending the demon back to the hellish realm that spawned him, she hurried into the next room.

  "Who is it?"

  "Danica."

  Danic is coming to me! He realizes he was being rude and wants to apologize, she thought ecstatically. Then she took on a cool demeanor. But I won't make it easy for the callous dog.

  Opening the door, "Please come in, Danic." Then seeing Danica's surprised look, "I mean Danica. I am sorry. I haven't quite gotten used to the idea of a former lover of mine being turned into a girl, much less an elfmaid."

  Danica grunted as she entered. "No offense taken. I'm not used to being a woman."

  "With that talisman, you won't be a woman for much longer," she said. "I'll tell you true, if it wasn't your talisman I'd have taken it right away."

  "No doubt," Danica said and scowled. "That's one reason I've come here to see you."

  Outraged, "You think I'll betray you! You think I'll rob you!"

  Danica winced.

  "No. Not that," Danica said. "I'm just worried about what your plans were before I showed up. What little scheme to get rich have you brewed up, Maeve?"

  "Nothing that involves you," she said.

  "If it involves the Vikon, then it involves me," Danica said. "These people have been helping me. Many are my friends, and I won't let you swindle them or otherwise bring harm to them."

  Maeve waved her concerns aside. "Don't wo
rry. I only need the Vikon to provide cover to get at what I truly want."

  "Which is?"

  "Gold. Goblin gold."

  "Goblin gold? Are you crazy? They'll eat you alive!"

  "I don't think so. I got it all figured out," she said. "I've found a lone goblin here in the city, and with my magic and his stolen Gift..."

  "You'll march right off to your doom," Danica said. "You can't steal a Gift like you can a mage's magic."

  "No, you're wrong, Danica. If caught and the proper ritual performed, a Gifted must bestow his or her Gift on his captor. I know the proper ritual, and now I have the magical knowledge to capture this particular Gifted One," she said. Then giving her a hard look, "Or did your mother forget to teach you Tyrian lore and legend?"

  "Leave my mother out of this," Danica said. "It's all myth, nothing more. You're risking your life on the promise of a fairy tale. Before you run off and cross spells with a goblin, think on this. Are unicorns magical? According to fairy tales they are."

  "In the olden days they were magical, back when dragons could fly and the Old Ones ruled the world," she countered. "Since unicorns were the result of Elven Magic, the Arisen Gods chose to take away their magical properties."

  "Where'd you hear that from?"

  Holding herself more erect, "I am a sorceress now. I have studied many ancient tomes and histories."

  "Sorceress, huh? So, tell me, how did you steal your magical powers."

  "I didn't steal them!"

  "Right, and dragons don't shit in the woods," Danica said. "You don't have the discipline to learn the High Arts, Maeve. Remember, I've known you for years."

  "I didn't steal my powers," she said. Then she rolled her eyes and looked quite mischievous. Wagging her brows, "I earned them."

  "How's that?"

  "About a year back, I came across a wizard in Somme in dire need of my special skills in acquisitions," she said. "So I made him swear an oath to Sankar to reward me with whatever payment I demanded. Now, being a wily warrior, I made it look like I would want great wealth, but in the end I demanded he share all his magical powers and knowledge."

  "And the God of Oaths and Vows forced him to give you what you wanted."

  "Exactly. He had to share all of his magical knowledge with me," she said. She practically beamed with pride. Tyrians loved outwitting someone even more than defeating them in a fight. "So I am a sorceress now."

  "So he was forced to magically put all his knowledge of magic into your head," Danica said. She nodded. "Wow. I'm shocked he didn't kill you immediately after fulfilling his promise."

  "Who said he didn't try?"

  Danica stared at her grimly. Taara did something similar with her, when she stole her body. Taara gained all of Danic's knowledge, as well as his body. She also stripped the elfmaid's body of all knowledge of magic, so Danica couldn't use it.

  Shaking her head sadly, "Maeve, Maeve, when will you learn. You always take the easy way. You are never willing to invest the time and sacrifice to attain something honestly, with hard work and determination."

  "Please, my Lady, spare me the lecture," she said, eyeing her darkly. "It's a bad habit of yours."

  "I only lecture those I care about."

  Maeve looked away quickly. Danica watched her intently, making Maeve wonder what she was thinking. Was she recalling how good they were together? How good they were in bed?

  She looked Danica over. It was a little irritating to admit it, but Danica was a far more beautiful woman than her. What a waste of all that beauty. Her eyes dropped to Danica's nether regions. No fun for me tonight.

  "I...I have been studying hard," she said. "Magic is a difficult, and very dangerous, discipline. If I am just the least bit unwary, my own magic will kill me."

  "Though I don't approve, if it made you even a little more cautious and thoughtful, I'm grateful for that," Danica said.

  "It has."

  "Then you will be careful? Please?"

  "I'm always careful," Maeve said, hurrying over to hug Danica.

  Danica slowly pulled away and turned back to the door. Part of her wanted Danica to stay, another part hadn't completely dealt with the whole elfmaid thing.

  "Danica, could you do me a little favor?"

  "Which is?"

  "I'm afraid our Vikon hosts will want me out of the tenement by morning," she said. Looking up beseechingly, "Could you help me stay at least until after you tangle with this Talar? In case you need me."

  She smiled warmly. "I'll see what I can do."

  "I knew I could count on you," Maeve said, returning her smile.

  Danica nodded, gnawing at her lower lip and staring off into space. Maeve waited patiently, fascinated by this behavior. Danic never hesitated. He knew what he wanted, and went after it almost single-mindedly. A trait she admired. This transformation had brought about certain changes in personality.

  "I have some questions you might be able to help me with," Danica said at length.

  Reaching out and laying a comforting hand on Danica's arm, "Are you having female problems?"

  "No! I mean, I don't think so." Danica paused, staring off into space a moment. "What sort of problems could I have?"

  Maeve shrugged. "Lot's since I doubt you knowing much about proper hygiene and such."

  "Oh no, during my stay at the Golden…where I met Cat, there were a lot of women eager to offer advice," Danica said, dismissing that with a wave of the hand. "But that's not what is bothering me." Again, she hesitated. "I seem to have developed certain abilities. Magic abilities."

  Maeve was suddenly alert, all humor gone from her features.

  "Tell me about them, Danica," she said, stepping closer.

  "Well, I can see magic," Danica said, watching her face closely. "I see sort of a misty light around spellcasters, that begins to intensify and swirl when they cast spells."

  "Is that all?"

  "Yes. Except the colors aren't necessarily the same. In Maag's Temple all her altars were surrounded by pink and blue Magicks, while the talisman emits a pure white light."

  Maeve shrugged, looking disappointed. "Elves are magical beings."

  "Then I can wield this Elven Magic?"

  "Maybe with years of training. I haven't the foggiest idea how it work. No one but the elves really do. However, your Mage Sight is simple enough to learn. Probably the elfmaid whose body you are inhabiting had a natural talent for it."

  "You can do it?"

  "Sure. It be easy. Any mage can."

  "What about witches?"

  "No. Mage Sight is Sorcery. Though I suppose they could learn the spell easily enough, I've never encountered a witch that used it. I think they have their own way of making those determinations, but it never occurred to me to ask," she said, then remembered something else. "I've heard that most royals can use Mage Sight, and that in the Empire even the lowest nobility is trained to use it. I've even heard that custom is starting to spread across the Tyrian Kingdoms and the Jarlands. Then again, I haven't cared enough to look into it."

  "Next question. Who are these Druigh? I've heard several people mention them around me, even suggest I might be of that caste. I got the impression they are feared."

  Maeve gave her a speculative look. He was much better educated, receiving a classical education. She would think he'd know more about that subject. Was it some sort of test?

  "The Druigh Caste is the priestly caste of the Forest Elves. They are also their only spellcasters. By all accounts, the Druigh are the highest and most honored of all the elven castes. Most elven leaders are Druigh."

  "What is it about me that tells everyone I'm Druigh?"

  Maeve frowned a moment. "I don't know that much about elves, especially the Forest Elves, but from what I recall, each caste is quite distinctive in appearance. Hair and eye color are important, as is size and shape of the ears. I only know for sure that Druigh Caste has blonde hair and blue eyes and small ears, while Warrior Caste has black hair and black eyes. I thin
k High Castes have small ears and Low Castes have large ears."

  "Can mages steal my Druigh powers? Are they another threat I have to watch out for?"

  "No. Humans can't use elven magic, though I believe elves can learn human magic."

  "Will being Druigh hurt or help me in the use of the talisman?"

  "It won't matter. Talismans are notoriously indiscriminating about who they help or hurt."

  Danica rolled that around in her mind a moment. Maeve watched her, seeing Danic in the way she absorbed information and processed it. It was a shame Danica couldn't call on Elven Magicks, because they could do so much together by combining the strengths of both human and elven magic.

  "You've changed," Maeve said.

  Suddenly defensive, "I'm still the same man underneath. That hasn't changed."

  "Yes it has. You be different. Very different."

  Danica's face flushed bright crimson. With fists clenched, she glared at Maeve. Maeve watched in growing fascination. Danic had never displayed such emotion. He was always in such awesome control of any situation and herself.

  "It's being in this bloody female body that's changing me. It keeps betraying me. It shames and humiliates me constantly."

  "How so?"

  Danica panicked. She had secrets, and Maeve wanted to know them all! Yet, at the same time, it provided opportunity for some fun.

  "I see the problem," Maeve said. Danica looked at her warily. So much raw emotion on display! "You've become the woman you so terribly feared you'd become."

  "No..."

  "Yes, you have." She gave a short laugh. "It's not your fault...but then again, maybe so. You have strong opinions on what a woman should be, how she should act and feel. Subconsciously, you are warring with yourself. One side wants to deny what you've become, the other wants to behave according to your notions of womanhood. I should watch you closely, to see what kind of woman you truly admire."

  Danica turned delightfully red. For a second, Maeve thought she was going to start sputtering. Yes, she struck bone with that observation.

  "You're crazy!"

  "So I've been told."