The Trial

by James Hunt

  ****

  "Father?" Kalek asked as he approached the cleric Tarin who was breaking down his tent into its parts.

  "Hmm?" The old elf said absentmindedly and he continued unhook the cloth from the support sticks.

  "There is a delicate matter I would like to ask you," He whispered and glanced over his shoulder behind him. "Mother is not around is she?"

  "Oh, no." Tarin mused and continued rolling up the loosened tent sides.

  "Have..." Kalek started to ask. "Lady elves... always had... wings?" he finally got out. Tarin started to chuckled to himself at some hidden joke.

  "Only royal ones," he said slyly. "And only when they mature into Queens. The wings are the manifestation of their birthright."

  "Ah," Kalek said, realizing he had just unwittingly confessed his indiscretion. Then in a moment of self-sacrificing bravery he blurted out. "We have joined."

  That, Tarin was not expecting. A curious peek, maybe. A passionate encounter, his mother only hoped.

  "Oh, my," He said sadly. His hands stopped and he looked up to his son with a look of pride but also worry. He put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Did you see her pain? Her past?"

  "As well as her joy, and her hope." He nodded. "I was... uncertain, as to why she choose me. She is beautiful, honorable, compassionate, and intelligent. All this I could see before, but after... it runs so much deeper."

  "Sex is but a joining of the flesh. A moment of bliss and passion. Joining of the minds, and souls can be a much richer experience, but not without a cost. I am happy for you, but you two could not have picked a worse time." Kalek understood his concern, and nodded his understanding. It was against tradition, and certain royal procedures...

  "I felt that she needed an anchor to this world, someone to keep her here in spite of what is to come." Kalek said. Tarin considered his son's words. There was some wisdom to it. Any elf that had witnessed the worst hell of this world so early in their life would remember it through their longest days, and would be eager to leave this world all the sooner. Such a poison was hard to cure. Even if it caused them both pain in the end should they grow incompatible, Kalek's strength would help cure that poison now. It made a certain amount of sense. But it would hurt Kalek in the end. That was what Tarin mourned.

  "I should also mention, that there are others that had hoped for that honor once we returned to Lunar. I would be discrete about your love." Tarin resumed breaking down his tent. Kalek assisted him with the hanging ropes.

  "Father, Lunar is lost to us." he said under his breath. "I see it. She sees it." He added cautiously.

  "I know, my son. But that false hope is what gives many of us peace at night." The heavy burden they both now shared with such honest feelings out in the open called for the remainder of their endeavor be completed in reflective silence.

  "Try to wait on telling your mother. See if she can figure it out on her own." Tarin said at last with a hint of mischief.

  "Aye, that is a battle I wish not to face."

  "Oh? She speaks of the many fights of words you have been picking with her lately. Wishing to retire her already?" Kalek snorted smugly.

  "In a certain perspective, I have already become her commander."

  Tarin let out a loud, hearty guffaw that jolted his son and made many heads poke out from between the tree branches to wonder what happened.

  ****

  "You don't need to do this, I have value." Cat pleaded once more. "I told you, take me north and my commander will pay my ransom."

  Rollis prodded her in the back again with his short sword and growled. She turned left - the side of her back he had just prodded. It was how he navigated the blindfolded woman around the treacherous wilderness. It had been a quiet morning for the most part. She played along and did as she was told. But as the hours went by she started to talk, and question, and beg. Normally the noise she made would be an inconvenience, but this time it wasn't his problem. It was hers.

  "Keep talkin'." he muttered. "Attract more attention to yourself." He advised her. "I'm not the one with my hands tied behind my back and blindfolded." Reminding her of that shut her up. But not this time.

  "I could pay for my own ransom," She alluded. "You sound like you haven't had it good in a long time." He grabbed her by the neck. The Cat stopped.

  She tried to calm her breath, part of her expected a knife in the ribs, part of her expected a blow to the side of her head, and a part of her...yes! expected hands to roam over her womanly features which was exactly what Rollis was doing as he caressed her leather-clad ass.

  He moved to her front and unbuttoned her leather shirt. Bit by bit it came apart, and he slid it down her shoulders exposing her firm athletic breasts to the open air. He cupped one, then the other in his palm and squeezed it painfully.

  "I work better with my hands free." She cooed at him. Rollis leaned in and breathed hotly into her ear.

  "Sweetling, you don't have anything I want." he growled with a bit a malicious humor. "Except maybe those leathers." he cut her hands free of their bindings. "Take it off. All of it. Touch the blindfold and I cut off an ear. Which I know firsthand hurts... a lot. "

  The Cat did as instructed. Slowly the jacket came off. Followed by the boots, and then her leather leggings. The Cat stood naked and blindfolded, her breath heavy in the air.

  "I could change your mind." She tried to entice him.

  "Tsk," Rollis rolled his eyes and picked up her clothes. "Even now that I've seen you bare, you still don't have anything I want."

  "You could pretend I'm someone else..." She tried again. Rollis didn't answer.

  At first she thought he was considering it, but then she didn't even hear him moving. He had promised to cut off an ear if she touched the blindfold, but now she dared it and it came off with a fury.

  He was gone.

  She was alone in the woods and naked. The Cat looked around her surroundings, and recognized nothing. She was lost.

  "Bastard! At least leave me a knife!" She screamed. There was no reply.

  ****

  By late evening they had found a new location and were making camp. Tents were rehung just as easily as they had been dismantled that morning. Tamain watched the Lunarians work in silence and appreciated how effective their methods were. No permanent base of operations to worry about defending, no possessions other than essentials, and no supply trains. Everything was carried on the backs of the knights in packs who traveled arms free and capable of combat.

  Tamain reminded himself that theses were just Lunarin scouts. Silent and deadly in their own right, but designed for reconnaissance and mobility. The strong arm of the Lunarin military were the Sky Riders, and thankfully he had never seen one. Secretly he wished they had a few to call on, but also dreaded ever seeing one. Leaf Knights were formidable enough for one Zecairin's lifetime.

  Their new camp was south of the Monastery, deep in the forest and away from any noticeable landmarks. To the Northwest was the small mountainside where they had first encountered each other, and far, far to the southeast were the marshes that Tamain called home. He still considered this area to be in his backyard. Anyplace close enough for him to see in a few days journey was too close for comfort for there to be potential danger. The main river in the marshlands emptied out into the blue sea, but his people had no boats to sail across the ocean, just fishing canoes. There was no place for them to run but back to Zecair if this went bad.

  That unlikely thread of connection - a simple name - had changed Niyana's position on this Monastery. She had confided in both Eola and himself during their walk that morning as to the nature of her savior, his mission in Zecair, and the dubious mercenary nature of these warriors called Disruptors. She was now all the more intent to destroy that place if they did not surrender peacefully. Tamain could not fault her in her conviction; this newly revealed secret could tip the balance of power between the three kingdoms. Humans that could easily infiltrate their borders, wreak havoc, and escape unchallen
ged simply because all thought they were too weak to be capable? It was devilishly devious.

  His people had been given orders to circle around the walls to the west, sneak over and take up vantage points on the rooftops. They were to create a diversion if the Queen's plan went awry and cover her retreat. That left the Discarded exposed during such a diversion, but Tamain was confident they could cause enough confusion to dilute the risk. But if the worst happened, his people could not stand against the humans in combat. The Queen was right about that, he had seen their abilities just a moment ago from the tree tops.

  Kalek placed a hand on Tamain's shoulder and brought his thoughts back to the moment. He looked over to the sharp features of the light elf's face, and realized he had never had an opportunity to get a good look at Kalek before. Their meetings had always been intense ones during which Tamain was paying attention to a million other things at once. This time he appreciated the man's countenance. He was one of the few knights Tamain would call noble.

  Tamain was about to speak, but no words came out. It was one of the Lunarin's rules when they set up a new camp - silence on the ground. And he had caught himself before he broke it. Instead he offered the Lunarin his hand again, it may be the last opportunity he would have to greet him - or say goodbye. Their alliance hadn't produced the fruit Tamain had hoped, but there was still a chance after this business was done. There was no telling how it would play out, and who would be in danger. But to this one Lunarin - one Tamain could call brother in a certain regard - he wanted to say 'Good luck'. Kalek grasped his hand firmly, and then Tamain's forearm with his other hand in a solid greeting. In his face he said "This isn't goodbye" but the strength of his grasp said "don't die."

  They broke, each continuing on with their own task without another thought. For Tamain, it was reuniting with his Discarded at their own camp, now that the Queen's plan had been debated and solidified. He walked with purpose and determination, and made certain every Lunarin that cared to look his direction would see him standing tall and determined. Their risk was great, and their respective roles were equally dangerous. He would not be the one to tremble, nor to falter, nor to worry, nor to glance at their faces for one last look as if to try and record their names should they fall tomorrow.

  No, he would be one to walk with a cocky strut. He was a Zecairin walking through an Lunarin camp unchallenged - something that never happened. And he planned to do it again. Perhaps even naked next time.

  His solitary walk was quiet and uneventful. Plenty of time to put his thoughts in order, and plenty of time to test his abilities. Since leaving the Lunarians, he had extended his sensory range and picked up sounds from far, far away. The headaches didn't return with this moderate use of magic - he was in the clear now.

  It was well into the evening when he came across the illusionary barrier that masked their small camp. He had been so lost in thought that when he absentmindedly walked right through it, and the small cluster of tall bushes turned into a campfire ring with a group of Zecairins sitting around it eagerly awaiting him, he spooked. Tamain brought up his guard, and a whirlwind rose up around him. He dissipated it almost immediately upon seeing Corella looking at him skeptically.

  "I was just proving that I am whole again." He lied. His tone of voice had turned from the whimsical rogue, to the dire strategist. Kelria had first heard him speak with such seriousness when he coerced her to their side, and since that night saw his more jovial nature emerged. It sent a certain shiver down her spine that was not entirely unpleasant.

  "Uh huh..." Pemmi snorted, dismissing his show of bravado.

  "Orders, watch-master?" Ut'van said in all seriousness. It was a title really only used back at The Swamp. Out here rank wasn't used or needed, anyone that didn't already know their roles had no place here. Tamain preferred his people to be on equal standing, and he had never needed to force anyone's compliance.

  "You are not going to like it." He said, and explained Niyana's plan to walk right in and make her inquiries.

  "Are they crazy?" Corella almost laughed when Tamain finished explaining it all.

  "To a certain extent." Tamain agreed with her assessment. "At first they offer polite diplomacy, and to avoid bloodshed. But with their soldiers already waiting in the tree line to sack the place should she be denied... Honestly, it is the only worthwhile option that is not slitting their throats as they sleep."

  "Why aren't we doing that? That sounds better. I like that." Gerrick added dryly, and a bit too excitedly. "Brutal, yes. But is there anyone on our side thinking they're not guilty? I don't see the point to letting them live. They have a captive demon prisoner..." he starting laying out his points in the air with his hands. It was clearly he was ready to slit a few throats with just a word. "They are milking it of its essence and making a drug. They're selling this drug to our people and it's killing us. The Lunarin's way gives them too much of a chance to murder us all. Who's going to kill the demon if we're all murdered?" His passion unsettled Kelria. Not because she didn't feel it justified, in fact she shared his feelings, but because none of the other Zecairins were this worked up.

  "I am." Tamain said coldly, and eerily rational. "I must reserve some of my impressive stamina to kill this eldritch Elder... whether they give it up willingly or not. If they do not, there will be chaos and blood. I will need to squander some of my power to mend organs and to keep many of you from bleeding to death. Not to mention showing the Lunarin Knights the same such courtesy as they will be our vanguard. No... make no mistake, if this goes badly and we are needed, it will be the worst way it can possible go. These humans are tough, just one of them could kill all of us. And it will take three to four Elths engaged in combat and not dying to kill one. There's only about twice as many Elths as the human fighters, so if they lose a single one the odds get that much worse."

  "We're fucked." Corella snorted derisively, with a hint of madness. "Why are we even doing this, it's ridiculous!"

  "To save Zecair." Tamain reminded her angrily. "Lunar is using our kin's new aggressive attitude as an excuse to rekindle the forges... according to the old Elth, that is."

  "Yep, double fucked." Ut'van sighed.

  "Nothing's wrong with getting double fucked." Rollis said as he walked through the barrier and rejoined them with a bundle of leathers under his arm. "Just don't clench up." he waggled his eyebrows obscenely at Kelria, before turning to Tamain. "Boss, remember we got an Elth here? Mind your fucking language around the Elth, before she gets offended at you calling her people Elths."

  "I don't mind, Zek," Kelria countered in kind. "Now isn't the time to be dishonest."

  "Woo hoo," Rollis sauntered over. His flamboyant mood was out of place for the normally brooding archer. He sized the moody brown haired girl up and formed a new opinion. "I brought the dear lady a gift." He bowed, overly dramatically, before presenting his bundle before her. "If you're going to run with us, you'll need to dress like us. So no one mistakes which side you're with."

  Kelria looked at them suspiciously.

  "I washed them, I swear." Rollis protested, indignantly.

  "Fine," She gathered them up and left to change.

  "I kinda like her in the Lunarin greens." Pemmi whispered. "It makes me want to fuck her angrily." The disapproving look Tamain gave her made her pointed ears roll flat. "What? You were thinking it too!"

  "We will infiltrate at dawn." Tamain said sternly, followed by an exasperated sigh that took the edge off his voice. "That will give us time to test them. If they don't detect us, we should have no problem stirring things up later. Keep in mind there are other humans in there besides the fighters that seem to be much less capable. Use them to stir things up. Niyana plans to approach late morning. If they detect us, we pull out, and it only strengthens Niyana's chance for diplomacy later. This alliance is our trump card against them. They won't expect us to work together. So they'll ignore one or the other, expecting us to attack each other before them, when instead we'll be unified a
gainst them."

  "Yeah, I forgot about that." Gerrick admitted. "Good point. Lets fuck 'em up."

  "No," Tamain condescended sternly. "We are not to engage them. We spook the rats so the Lunarians can escape. If this turns into a fight. Run. Or you'll die." Tamain's grimness wasn't going over well with the others.

  "That bad?" Corella called him out on it. "Worse than what we've already faced?"

  "No, you have a point," Tamain conceded with a sigh. "I just want us all to get out alive. But these humans are not like anything we've faced. They're very different."

  "People die out here Tam," Corella said angrily, her patience for his coddling reaching its end. "Or did you forget that? We haven't, and we're still here for this insane adventure. You're the one driving us to save Zecair, and we're in for it to the end, so you better have your head in this right. You're not going to save us all, so save as many as you can."