Reign of the Dark Elves

by Andrew G. Wood

  With breakfast over, the fire was extinguished, and the camp cleared away. Brenion told them they had another long day’s travelling ahead of them across a terrain that would become more hilly the further they went. After asking Liana to check using her powers, they were not being followed, they all set off up the hillside. They had barely made it down the other side when Liana wanted to know the full story of how Ari had killed the wraith the previous evening.

  “Don’t miss out any details,” she told him, linking her arm with his as they walked.

  Chapter 8.

  Gashek was a vast walled city. Although occupied by the Dark Elves and used as their main base, it had in fact been built by humans. Using thousands of slaves, it had taken a dozen years or more to complete the fortifications that surrounded it. While home to many of the Elves that now called these lands their own, and by far the largest, it was just one of several fortified settlements that now spread across their ever-expanding kingdom. While the humans had been defeated, rather easily over two centuries earlier, it did not mean the Dark Elves did not require a large army. To maintain their dominance, Dark Elven troops were based at several locations across the land, although the majority did reside at Gashek.

  Built near to the coast, the city also acted as the focal point for all goods imported and more importantly exported. While the humans now only existed to serve their masters, much of the food they produced was prepared and sent back across the Great Sea to their homeland. Ravaged by years of warring amongst themselves, it had been this lifeline from across the water that had enabled the land of The Dark Elves to recover. With the steady stream of food being sent from one kingdom to the other, the Dark Elves were allowed to focus on their plan of domination rather than worry about farming for themselves. As a result, most young Dark Elves were recruited into its ever-growing army and duly sent to all quarters of the world to further their dominion.

  Gashek was also home to Saedor, younger sibling of the current Dark Elven leader and named for the one responsible for originally conquering the humans. Living in a vast palace, no expense had been spared in its creation, a symbol of wealth and power to show who it was that was in control. Although Saedor was in overall command of these lands, the day to day running was inevitably left to the Dark Elven bureaucrats to oversee the city and the lands beyond.

  Saedor was somewhat different to his other siblings as he was also the one blessed with the gift of magic; probably another reason his older brother had seen fit to send him across the Great Sea. When just in his teenage years, Saedor had discovered he was capable of doing things others could not. Bending the minds of others to do as he wished was but one of the things he was capable of, although it was something that did not always work. After studying several ancient tomes, he discovered that by using various types of magic he could also summon various demons to do his bidding. However, Saedor had also found out the hard way that using such magic ultimately came at a price. Although still a teenager at the time, he had found himself ageing at an alarming rate, something that could now only be delayed further by draining the life force of others. Forever bound by the use of his dark magic, it was fortunate that Saedor had a regular supply of humans from which he could replenish his own life force.

  However, he had discovered that if he took the life of another who could wield magic, not only was his ageing reversed, but his own powers seemed to increase. Unfortunately, the effects were not permanent and finding such people was rare. Despite all his soldiers being made aware that all humans they discovered who could wield magic were to be captured, the supply of late had been non-existent. Magic, after all, was a rare thing even among the Dark Elves.

  Saedor looked out from the balcony adjoining his bedchamber and over the courtyard below. He watched somewhat excitedly as he spotted the latest intake of young human girls being herded into a small building opposite. With the recent reaping, Saedor could expect his pick of the latest bunch, using them as he saw fit, until such time he fancied a change. Some he merely sent back, while others he thought had served their purpose and were duly drained of their life, to appease his own addiction. While Dark Elves and humans were very different in appearance, they were quite alike when it came to which bits went where. Young human females were quite popular among the Dark Elves to help satisfy their needs and desires and were often passed around accordingly, often sold from one to another. Saedor, as ruler, naturally would get the first selection and so with a spring in his step he headed back indoors.

  Saedor ambled along the long corridor that led from his private quarters and down a set of white stone steps. Several tapestries hung on the plain whitewashed walls all of which depicted scenes from the Dark Elf homeland, adding just a little burst of colour. The stone steps led down two levels until Saedor reached the main entrance where two of his guards stood upright to attention as he approached. The person he sought was, fortunately, coming in through the door as he was about to leave it, saving him the job of seeing him out.

  “Ah Jorim, have the new intake brought up to my quarters as soon as possible.”

  “Of course, your Eminence. We are just having them washed down and tidied up for your selection,” Jorim replied bowing his head subserviently as he spoke.

  Happy there was nothing more he could do until they were ready, Saedor had little option but to stroll back up the stairs that he had just descended.

  Waiting somewhat impatiently in his main room, Saedor helped himself to another glass of wine. The drink, much like the glass from which he used had been sent over from the Elven homeland. Humans, while great builders made lousy wine, and had not made such ornate things as drinking glasses since before the invasion. As far as Saedor was concerned, humans had, but one purpose in life and that was to serve their Dark Elven masters. After sitting down on a long red cushioned seat, a knock sounded at the door, and Saedor leapt to his feet in excitement.

  Jorim marched eight new selections in through the door, as Saedor leered at each as they passed him by. Now, all washed and wearing the same pale blue dresses afforded them on their arrival it was time for him to pick. Starting at the last one through the door, Saedor looked the young girl up and down. Visibly shaking with fear, she had dark curly hair and a rounded look to her face. Somewhat flat chested Saedor thought she could well have been mistaken for a boy, in fact, he even moved his hand down just to check that was not the case. Not liking what he saw he waved a nonchalant hand indicating his displeasure and the unfortunate girl was grabbed by one of the guards and dragged out of the door. Her services may well be better suited elsewhere, perhaps the soldiers would like to share her for a while, he thought.

  The second girl was much more curvaceous and had her hair long, so it draped over her shoulders. Saedor licked his lips as he ran his thin boney finger down her cheek and could already feel excited at the thought of taking this one.

  “Yes, I’ll take her first,” he said with a grin on his pointy-featured face as he moved on to the next girl in line. Knowing there would be many more human girls to chose from as those selected at the reaping were brought to Gashek, Saedor thought he could be a little picky about his choices. Aside from the second girl, he dismissed all the others bar the last one, who he thought would do for tomorrow.

  With his selection made he quickly waved everyone out of his room, except for the girl he had chosen first. Although clearly afraid of what was going to happen, she barely flinched when he pulled the dress over her head and tossed it to the floor. Grabbing her by the hand, Saedor led her to his bedchamber before kicking the door closed. The girl had evidently been told to do everything that was asked, being as it was now her duty to please her new Master. Saedor liked the ones that did not struggle and squirm, thinking they made it all the more pleasurable when they just accepted what he wanted to do.

  In the city, scores of young human men selected to work as slave labour were being divided up accordingly. Some would remain in Gashek to work on the neverending building work
that went on, while others would be sent a little further north to the mines and quarries. Life expectancy for the latter was not good, and many that were sent there did not usually see more than another year or two of their miserable existence. However, not all human males were treated quite so bad, as those deemed physically capable were trained as soldiers to fight for their Masters. Arming humans though could be dangerous, and thanks to a little magic and some part alchemy, the Dark Elves had managed to conjure up a potion that seemed to counter any thoughts the human might have had of rebelling, and all but brainwashing them to their cause.

  The humans selected as soldiers underwent basic training in how to use a sword or bow. With the Dark Elves currently engaged in many wars around the globe, these were then shipped off to where they were needed most. Although better fed than any of the slaves in the quarries and mines, their life expectancy was just as short. Often used by being thrown into battle as fodder to soften up the enemy, few survived for long. A few more fortunate ones were kept at home and merely sent out to help man the numerous Dark Elven outposts that scattered the land. Although life there could also be severe, as the human soldiers were harshly treated and used for sport by their Dark Elven leaders. This usually involved two humans fighting each other to the death, although just to spice things up they were sometimes pitched against ferocious animals to add to the Elves entertainment.

  After Saedor had finished with the girl he had selected, he left her on his bed with the instruction not to move as he would be back later. Wearing nothing more than a long robe and feeling decidedly good with himself, he helped himself to a little more wine. Another knock sounded at his door, and although annoyed at the interruption he duly shouted for whoever it was to enter. Saedor glanced over to the doorway and watched as one of his Generals stepped inside.

  “Apologies for the intrusion, Your Eminence. I thought you should be made aware of an incident near the town of Sarton.”

  Saedor let his shoulders drop, wondering why these things always came just when he was enjoying himself.

  “Very well, General,” he eventually said waving his hand as in indication for him to speak.

  The General was a little taller than most Dark Elves, more human-like in size. With piercing red eyes and long dark hair that was tied at the back, he had been in Saedor’s service for quite some time and as a result, was allowed a little more leeway when it came to using the correct decorum. Foregoing any bowing of the head, the General started to explain that they had captured a human with magic, and planned to bring him to Gashek for Saedor to ‘deal with’. However, while en-route the prison wagon had stopped to collect a few more selected from a town’s reaping; that being a place called Sarton. Here a few young girls and a boy had been picked for pleasurable use and placed in the wagon and sent on their way.

  “Stop!” Saedor said sharply, holding his hand up.

  “They put these new selections in with the magic user?” he asked just to check he understood things correctly.The General nodded that was indeed the case.

  Saedor shook his head in disbelief, at the stupidity of the soldiers involved.

  “Bring those responsible to me. I will see that they are dealt with.”

  The General grimaced a little, “Begging your pardon, Your Eminence, but that won’t be necessary. They found the bodies of both in the forest just a short ride from the town.” He looked over to where Saedor was standing before adding that they had also found the body of one of the humans from the reaping.

  “How were they killed?” Saedor asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer.

  “There is evidence that magic was used to kill both. One suffered severe damage from fire, which would suggest the sorcerer.”

  “And what of the other?”

  “We are not certain, Your Eminence. The soldier’s neck was completely crushed as if something incredibly strong had squeezed it.”

  Saedor started to pace around the room, pondering about what had just been said. From what they knew the sorcerer would undoubtedly be responsible for causing any fire damage, he had seen evidence of their skills before. However, if the second soldier had suffered a different kind of death, it did not sound as if the sorcerer was responsible for that one. All this, he deduced could only mean one thing. “One of those selected must have had magical powers as well!” he announced clicking his fingers. He turned quickly back to his General, “I want these two Captured. The last thing we need is a group of magicians working together. Find out who those selected were and where they came from. Question everybody, burn their villages to the ground if you must!” Saedor added feeling himself getting irate.

  The General, however, remained completely calm, seemingly unfazed by Saedor’s tantrum.

  “I have your permission to dispatch our soldiers from Gashek, Your Eminence?”

  “Yes, of course. Hunt them down and kill them!” Saedor replied as the volume of his voice raised considerably.

  “I will lead the force myself,” The General replied, bowing his head just a little before turning around and exiting through the door.

  Feeling annoyed and angry, Saedor swigged back another drink of wine, before turning around and heading back to his bedchamber. With so much pent-up anger, the young human girl was going to be the one who suffered his wrath. However, he thought that perhaps one more pleasurable moment might calm him enough to let her live a bit longer.

  Chapter 9.

  Brenion, Liana and Ari had travelled three days more since they had killed the wraith that had been pursuing them. Crossing over hills and vales, by-passing many of the small villages that seemed to be dotted around the area. They had only deviated from their route once, and that was to avoid getting too close to a Dark Elven outpost positioned just a few miles from where they were passing by. While Brenion doubted they would be on the lookout for anyone, he thought it best to err on the side of caution and stay well clear nonetheless.

  Each night they had set up camp, with Brenion finding them sites that had evidently been used before; another sign this was not the first time the sorcerer had travelled this way. To keep them safe from harm while they slept Brenion also continued putting what he called his enchantments in place, to stop anything wandering in on them during the hours of darkness. Unsure of how many miles they had travelled, Liana for one, had noticed a considerable drop in temperature. Not so much during the day, but more at nighttime, and was now glad of the extra clothing she had been given at the start of their journey.

  While she and Ari remained quite close, neither had made any attempt at moving their relationship along a little further. Not that they had time for anything else, as most of the daylight hours were spent walking, and the few hours in the evening they did have spare, were usually taken setting up the camp. However, Ari had persuaded Brenion to allow him a little more practice with the sword he now carried, but the sessions inevitably did not last long as the light became an issue.

  As for Liana’s own set of skills, aside from checking and honing her ability to sense others around her, Brenion had instructed her to do no more. While still unsure as to how or why she had suddenly got this so-called magical ability, Liana felt it was something she could embrace. Moreover, with Brenion telling them they were getting closer to where they needed to be, her optimism for a good future was as high as it had ever been. If indeed the sorcerer was taking both her and Ari to a land where humans were still allowed to live free unoppressed lives, then it would be a future worth having. With that thought in her mind, Liana glanced over at the taller young man beside her, wondering if Ari would play a part in it, or whether they would merely drift their own separate ways and find new paths to follow. Deep down Liana hoped that wasn’t going to be the case, and while she was certain about her own feelings for Ari, she was uncertain as to how he felt about her. Sure, he was polite and friendly enough and always happy to take her arm when they walked, but he had never tried to do anything more.

  With the end of another day fas
t approaching and the temperature dropping, Liana was looking forward to the warmth of a fire. With far fewer wooded areas about, the wind seemed somehow more prominent and with it a chill that had Liana shivering.

  “Oh that wind is so cold,” she said trying to move closer to Ari as they followed Brenion towards their campsite for the evening. Ari, always the caring and thoughtful young man, lifted his cloak up and lifted it over her shoulders. While it didn’t actually achieve anything in as far as keeping her any warmer, the gesture alone was enough to make her forget the chill for a few moments at least.

  Brenion guided them between two hills, along what Liana thought appeared to be an old dry riverbed. Despite the shape and depth still being prominent, she guessed the water only flowed in winter when the rains were heavier and perhaps when there was snow about on the hills. They followed the course for some time, meandering one way then the other before Brenion pointed for them to head up the bank to their right. At first, Liana could see no reason for heading the direction he had indicated, but then noticed the entrance to what looked like a cave.

  “We can camp in here tonight, tomorrow we have a tough day ahead,” Brenion told them.

  “A tough day? Just for a change!” Ari added rolling his eyes back and casting Liana a smile.

  Ari and Liana scoured the surrounding area picking up small sticks and bits of dried gorse bush to use for a fire, while Brenion grabbed a much larger branch. Being as there were few trees in the immediate vicinity, Liana could only assume that the branch must have been washed down there by the flow of water sometime in the winter months. Fortunately for them, it had stopped right where they needed it to be, and after Brenion had used his sword to cut off a few manageable pieces, they all headed into the cave.