Malcolm chuckled.
“No, we wouldn't want that either, sir,” he assured the Elder. “But I don't know if we would be allowed to make the trip any more than your sister would be permitted to come here.”
“Why not?” Aiden asked him. “Warriors aren't rare, unlike elven singers. Why wouldn't Tamara and the others want us to go?”
Malcolm held up his hand and counted the reasons off on his fingers.
“Dragons. Goblins. Giants. Ogres. And on and on. Aiden, we aren't just regular fighters. We're the commanders of the castle guard. We are effectively the leaders of the army, such as it is. Do you really think that Tamara would allow us to leave for an extended period of time?”
He looked at Shendal.
“Would it take long, this visit with your sister?”
“There is no way to know,” the Elder replied with a shrug. “She does not live near the portal's location on my world, so you would have to travel to her home. And whatever she would need to do to affect your condition would also take time. Singers are not like magic-users. Their techniques can take many days. You might be gone for several weeks. And there is always the chance that she might not be able to help you. Kamalla is not all powerful, even though she is very talented.”
“Weeks,” Malcolm said as he looked at Aiden. “You see? It won't be a quick fix. And even if Tamara gave us her blessing, who knows what we would find when we got back. It's not like they can call us on a cell phone if there's an emergency. We could get back to find the castle leveled and goblins dancing in the ruins.”
“Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine,” Aiden growled.
“I'm being practical,” Malcolm replied. “Something that is usually your job, isn't it?”
Aiden was saved from responding by Shendal, who pushed himself to his feet with the aid of his staff.
“I am sorry, my friends,” he said with obvious effort, “but I am suddenly quite weary. I thank you for your hospitality, and I do hope that I have not troubled you. I just felt that you should know that there is an option, if you are determined to try to treat your condition. I leave the decision in your hands.”
Both men stood up quickly and Aiden hurried to the door. He opened it for the Elder.
“We thank you, sir,” he said sincerely. “Very much. You've given us a lot to think about.”
“Please drop by again, any time,” Malcolm added warmly.
“You are most kind. Good night, gentlemen,” Shendal said as he shuffled through the doorway and out into the hall. “Sleep well.”
Aiden shut the door behind him and slid the bolt across, locking it. He turned to look at Malcolm as the big man sat down again with a heavy sigh.
“Well, what did you think of that?” Malcolm asked as he sat back and rubbed his eyes.
Aiden collapsed on to the couch.
“I'm not sure,” he said. “His offer gives me hope, but you were right; it's totally impractical right now. If there's an attack on the castle, we have to be here, not away in some enchanted land getting treated for our curse. A treatment that may or may not be effective. Shendal was vague about whether his sister could actually cure us.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too. He did warn us that she might not be able to help, so at least he was honest.”
Malcolm clenched his hands tightly in frustration, holding back the urge to smash something.
“But the chance that we could be cured is so close,” he continued. “So damned close. Well, at least now we know that Chao's treatment should be avoided.”
“Do we?”
Aiden swung his legs around and stretched out on the couch, lacing his fingers behind his head as he stared up at the vaulted ceiling.
“All we know is that Shendal does not like Ellas,” he said. “Did you see how he reacted when we mentioned her name? I wonder if all elves feel that way about summoned creatures?”
Malcolm looked at him thoughtfully.
“Good question. I noticed that too. I mean, I'm not fond of that sprite mainly because she always sounds so condescending, but I don't think that she's evil. Devious maybe, but not evil. But I'm no magic-user.”
Aiden turned his head to look at his partner.
“Yeah, I don't much like her either. But Chao trusts her, and I trust him. I don't believe for a minute that Ellas could trick Chao the way that Shendal seems to think she could.”
“So what are you saying?” Malcolm asked him as he sat back in his chair and tried to relax. “That we should go ahead with Chao's attempt to cure us?”
“I think that we shouldn't dismiss it out of hand. And as much as I'm intrigued by the idea of traveling to the elves' world, I'm not quite convinced that it would be as easy as walking through that portal. This continuous talk of 'preparing' people before they attempt to cross over makes me nervous. How the hell are they prepared? None of the Elders are spell-casters. They've all said as much. So what is this process that they're talking about? Whatever it is, I don't think that I'm all that eager to go through it. Are you?”
“Dunno.”
Malcolm stood up.
“I'm going to bed. Maybe if I sleep on it, things will become clearer. Make sure that you bank the fire before you come in.”
“Yeah, I will. I'm going to lie here for a while and think. G'night, Mal.”
“Night.”
Chapter 14
High summer was fast approaching and the weather started to heat up. In Nottinghill Castle, a rumor began to circulate; a rumor that came to the attention of the leadership very quickly.
Tamara and Sebastian called for a surprise meeting of the Council one day in early July, and both Aiden and Malcolm were mystified by the summons. As far as they knew, things had been going quite well in and around the castle.
When they arrived, the two warriors found that only the senior mages, including Sylvie and her sister Veronique, and Chao were waiting for them in the meeting hall. Neither Daniel, the blacksmith, nor the cleric Katherine were there. None of the elves were there either.
“Malcolm, would you close the door please?” Tamara called out as they walked into the hall.
“Um, sure,” he replied, puzzled.
He closed the heavy door and walked over to the conference table. Both he and Aiden sat down and looked around at the others.
“Well now, this is a rather intimate group,” the big man joked. “Are we planning a surprise party or something?”
His smile faded as no one else returned it. Aiden frowned at the mages and looked up the table at Tamara.
“What's going on?” he asked flatly. “What's happened?”
The mage folded her hands and rested them on the table. She was wearing a dark blue robe and the sunlight that blazed into the hall through the high, stained-glass windows made Tamara's fair skin look even paler. Neither Malcolm or Aiden had ever seen her looking so grave.
“Have either of you heard the rumor that is making the rounds lately?” she asked them.
“Rumor?”
The men looked at each other. Malcolm just shrugged and Aiden shook his head, looking perplexed.
“What rumor is that?” Aiden asked Tamara. “We both hear gossip all the time, usually about the elves. People love to make up stories, you know. What's the latest?”
“And why would some rumor make you call a meeting?” Malcolm added. “A meeting with only you magic-users and us. Are we hiding something from the others?”
Tamara looked down at her hands, as if reluctant to answer, and Sebastian leaned forward and began to speak.
“Guys, the rumor that Tammy is talking about concerns the two of you,” he said as he looked at both men. “You and the elves and your...condition, actually. Now we all know that you've never hidden the fact that you were bitten by a werewolf years ago. People who have known you for any length of time trust you, regardless of your curse. Even newer members of the population are, for the most part, more intrigued than frightened when they hear about it. There are a few
morons who fear anything new, but when you get a lot of people together in one place, there are bound to be some idiots tossed into the mix.”
“Okay,” Malcolm replied evenly. “So far that's true. So what's this rumor that you're talking about? Aiden and I have very little interaction with the elves. Dianis and the others tend to keep to themselves. Even the ordinary elves down in their camp only come to the castle to trade. We rarely speak with them.”
Sebastian hesitated and his sister took over the conversation.
“The rumor is spreading that the elves aren't actually here on a mission of friendship and cooperation. Instead, apparently they plan to wait until there is an attack by the goblins and then they will remove your protective enchantments, turning you both into horrible monsters to attack the castle from the inside. The elves will then retreat through their portal, leaving us to our fate.”
She looked around the table and smiled a bit at the expressions on the faces of the others.
Sylvie and Veronique were both grinning in disbelief, while Chao just rolled his eyes silently. Sebastian's expression matched his sister's.
Malcolm and Aiden stared at Tamara, both of them mystified by what she had just said.
“That's one of the stupidest things that I've ever heard,” Malcolm scoffed. “And I've heard a lot of dumb ideas. Are you telling us that people actually believe it?”
“The elves had better make sure that the goblins attack during a full moon,” Aiden added sarcastically. “Or we won't be changing into 'horrible monsters'. Good grief.”
Tamara laughed at their reactions.
“No, Malcolm, I'm sure that most people don't believe it. That actually isn't why I called this meeting. The story is absurd, obviously, but it had revealed something that is quite troubling.”
“Which is what?”
The mage's expression became serious again.
“Before I called us all together, I visited with Dianis and the other Elders and I mentioned this rumor. And Shendal said that he had recently visited you two to talk about your curse. True?”
“That's quite true,” Aiden confirmed, looking over at Chao as he spoke. “He warned us that our friend's idea,” he motioned toward the summoner, “to cure or at least alter our condition would not work. He also seemed to have little love for summoned creatures. He particularly seems to disapprove of Chao's sprite friend, Ellas. He said that they are sly and shouldn't be trusted.”
“Does he?” Chao spoke up. “Now that is curious.”
“It is? How so?”
“The Elder also spoke with me not long ago. We discussed my interactions with sprites and other magical creatures and he never mentioned being concerned that they were devious or untrustworthy. Hmm. I wonder why?”
“The point is,” Tamara interrupted. “that I believe something strange is going on. Something below the surface that I do not understand. And it's making me nervous. How did someone find out that Shendal visited you two? I didn't even know about that. And yet he is specifically mentioned in the rumor that is going around.”
“Sorry, Tamara,” Malcolm said. “It didn't seem like something that was important enough to mention.”
“It wasn't,” she replied. “Your personal life is just that; personal. I'm not your boss. I'm just the head of the Council and I have no interest in hearing about every little thing that happens in this castle. But someone did learn of it. Not only that, but whoever that person was also knew that the Elder spoke to you about your condition. How?”
Aiden looked troubled.
“That's a good point. I never told anyone about Shendal's visit and I certainly wouldn't have shared details about our conversation. Mal?”
“Same. I was going to mention the Elder's concerns about Ellas to Chao, but I'm afraid that it slipped my mind. Sorry, Chao.”
The summoner smiled gently at him.
“Do not be. Ellas is devious and flighty, but she is not evil. My powers reveal quite a bit about the beings that I summon and I know which ones are trustworthy and which ones aren't. What I don't know is what game the Elder is playing at. He told you that she wasn't to be trusted and yet never even brought that up when we spoke together. Quite the contrary. He peppered me with questions about her and about other creatures that I have known. I'm rather confused by the whole thing.”
“It is odd, isn't it?” Tamara mused. “What is that old elf up to?”
Veronique raised her hand and Tamara smiled down the table at her.
“Yes, Veronique?” she said. “What is it?”
“You were wondering if someone might have been spying on the meeting between the Elder and our two friends here. Correct?”
“Correct.”
“Well, there is a more obvious answer to who started this nasty rumor.”
“Which is what?”
“Shendal himself,” Veronique said simply. “He was in the meeting and spoke to Malcolm and Aiden about that sprite. Then he met with Chao and also talked about her. And in both instances his attitude was entirely different. Doesn't that strike every one of us as odd? The Elder is the only common denominator in both meetings.”
Tamara and several others looked skeptical.
“What possible reason would Shendal have for starting such a ridiculous rumor?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” Veronique replied with a shrug. “Elves are not humans. They think differently than we do. I couldn't even hazard a guess as to what his motivations might be. I'm simply pointing out the obvious.”
“My sister has a point,” Sylvie said. “It makes more sense than the thought of someone sneaking around the castle listening at doors while Shendal meets with various members of the Council. Eventually that person would be spotted and caught, don't you think?”
“Maybe,” Tamara said thoughtfully. “Maybe you're right. But I can't wrap my head around that idea. Yes, I know that the elves are different. But surely someone as old and wise as Shendal would know that spreading false rumors would only rile up certain elements among the population?”
“That might be the point,” Aiden observed. “And no, I don't know why he would want to stir up trouble, but it's at least possible.”
There was a pause in the conversation as the group mulled over what they had learned. They were all startled when Malcolm slapped his palm on the table, making the room echo.
“Instead of all this useless speculation, why don't we just go to the source and clear this up immediately?” he said as he looked up the table at Tamara.
“You mean drag the Elder in here for questioning?” she asked wryly. “Yes, I'm certain that would go over well. Malcolm, I have no intention of angering our new allies by grilling the most senior member of their delegation and accusing him of starting trouble. Okay? That is a non-starter.”
The big man shook his head vigorously.
“Of course I don't mean that,” he said. “I meant that we should speak with Dianis. She is the leader of the group, even if they all insist that they are equals. Perhaps she would have insights into this situation that we don't?”
“Ah, now that's a better idea,” Tamara told him with a smile. “Dianis does seem to be a reasonable person. As long as we aren't actually accusing Shendal of anything, she would at least listen to us.”
Sebastian stood up and looked down at his sister.
“Shall I ask her to join us?”
“Just like that?” Sylvie asked, startled.
“No time like the present,” he told her. “Tamara?”
“Go ahead, Sebastian,” she said. “We're all here anyway. Might as well clear the air sooner rather than later.”
“Okay. I won't be long.”
He hurried out of the room and Aiden stood up at the same time.
“Since we're going to be here for a while, I'll pop into the kitchen and ask them for some refreshments while we wait,” he told everyone.
“Thanks, Aiden,” Tamara said gratefully. “I'm sure that we'd all appreciate some tea.�
�
Malcolm winked at his partner and Aiden grinned back as he left the room.
“He's a good man,” Veronique told Malcolm.
“The best,” he replied stoutly. “There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not reminded of that. How the hell someone as kind and decent as Aiden is ended up with a jerk like me is still a mystery.”
Sylvie laughed at his comment.
“Oh, you're not that bad, Malcolm,” she told him. “You have your good points too.”
“Maybe one or two,” he admitted with a smile. “But if it wasn't for Aiden, they probably wouldn't have developed enough to notice.”
The group made small talk while they waited for Sebastian to return. When Aiden got back with two kitchen workers in tow, everyone stood up and served themselves some tea. The cook had piled a plate high with freshly-baked shortbread cookies and the group sent their compliments back to the kitchen when the workers left the room.
“Amazing what that man can do with some flour, honey and butter,” Sylvie told her sister as she munched on a cookie.
“Shush,” Veronique said as she chewed slowly with her eyes closed. “Don't interrupt me. I'm in heaven right now.”
They both laughed as they enjoyed the sweet treat.
Malcolm savored the cookies as well, but he sat quietly next to Aiden as he ate and thought about the mysterious rumors and their source.
Was it possible that Shendal had started such nonsense? Why? What could motivate the elf to do that? Did he want to stir up the population? Sow dissent? Once again, why?
Sebastian returned a few minutes later. He walked into the room and a few seconds later Dianis entered behind him. The elf was wearing her usual white robe and she looked well rested and calm.
Tamara rose to her feet to greet the head of the elven delegation.
“Good day, Dianis,” the mage said warmly. “Thank you so much for joining us at such short notice. I hope that we aren't inconveniencing you.”
The Werewolves of Nottinghill Page 18
