The wizard frowned as he heard the story, unsure what to make of the information. He'd always thought the imprisonment of the Princes was sealed by unbreakable runes at the entrance of Naverstrom, deep in the heart of the mountain. This was truth in his mind as he had seen the runes shining strong along the rim of the tunnel boring into Naverstrom. But perhaps those runes only guarded their spirits?
"What of the Amulet of Tabershem? My allies in the Arcanum indicated that Master Loral offered the relic as a gift to the Princes. It powers some of the magical runes of Naverstrom. And according to my understanding of lore, the dwarves possess a relic, as do the Malathians, and the elves possess the other."
"The three mortal kingdoms possess the relics that power the runes, and the runes keep the Princes locked within the confines of their prison. I'm surprised you lack the truth, wizard." Jolrath sniffed and winked at his daughter. "We elves possess the seven mirrors, and without the mirrors the Princes will remain in spirit form, preventing them from casting their ancient magic upon the world. And each of the seven Princes is master over their own school of magic."
"And Prince Xanthes?"
"You do not know of his powers?" The dark elf smiled and shook his head in amusement. "And I heard you were the greatest of the human wizards to walk the land? Are your historians and lore-masters really so uninformed?"
"This lore has been lost in our archives, and the elves are silent and refuse to grant access to the great library of Khalas Dralorn to those with mixed blood. You know we feed on whispers and tales told by tinkers and madmen."
"Yes, I suppose that is true. What seems as common knowledge to the immortal elven mind must be mystery to the humans. I often forget." Jolrath stepped closer to the wizard and peered down at him. "Prince Xanthes was once called the Lord of the Earth, for his powers in commanding the earth were vast, not only the waters of the earth but also the movement of mountains and volcanoes and magma. And his army was an army of elementals and trees and water sprites. He fought against the other princes, who ruled other forces of life."
"And they were considered gods," Master Shalinor said, "the gods who ruled the earth and walked among the humans and dwarves and elves."
"They were considered as such, but mortals are easily fooled. Even we elves are considered gods by many of the maidens we bed." Jolrath gave the wizard a wry look. "But does that make us gods? I think not. In our lore we have our gods, and those Princes are nothing in comparison."
"Are your gods imprisoned as well?" Master Shalinor gave Jolrath a wry smile.
"How can you imprison a god?" In a violent instant, the dark elf raised an obsidian dagger to the wizard's neck. "Who do you think is father and mother to these Princes of Naverstrom? You are but a flea, an insignificant mote drifting across the vast universe. You possess some talent at trickery, a little skill in casting magic, but you are nothing, remember my words, you are nothing in comparison to our gods. Only if you heed my words will you have a place in the coming changed world. When you speak to the traitorous elves of Khalas Dralorn, remember what I have said, and choose wisely with whom you form an alliance. Master Vhelan has already decided and joined my cause. Will you be next?"
The wizard glanced down at the dagger. "Do I have a choice? And if I say yes, what is it you want in return?"
"There is always a choice..." The dark elf tightened his grip on the dagger and slid the blade in a position ready to slice Master Shalinor's neck. "...between life and death. I'm sure you will choose life? And in return all I demand is the protection of my daughter. She is young and lacks knowledge of the magical arts. I had asked for Master Vhelan's help, but he was forced to abandon her to save his wife. This I understand, however I cannot trust the safety of my daughter to your grandson. He is rash and irresponsible, a man of chaos and wine...but still, a man after my own heart. But this does not bode well for her protection. Can I count on you, wizard?"
"Don't be ridiculous, of course you can count on me. Protecting my grandson and your daughter is of utmost importance to the safety and stability of the world." Though Master Shalinor still believed he needed to consult with the high elves of Khalas Dralorn. And there he would use the portal to Shaar'el and meet the two before the end of the moon. At least that was his plan...
"If this is true, then why did you leave them in Karth to come here? Did you believe Master Vhelan and the Hakkadians traitors to your cause? Because of your abandonment of Princess Sebine and your grandson, you have left them to the perils of attempting to travel to Shaar'el. A difficulty few of even the bravest adventurers would attempt, especially now in the current political landscape between the two human kingdoms, and the chaos and sorcery of Glar Bay."
"I could not risk having the Kingdom of Drazal'tan and the elves exposed to whatever foul scheme that King Braxion is planning." Master Shalinor felt a trickle of sweat bead along his forehead as the dark elf still held the dagger to his throat.
"But we already knew," Jolrath said. "Or did you mean the elves of Khalas Dralorn? It will do no good to tell them. Haven't you heard? The light-blinded elves of Khalas Dralorn are leaving our fair city. With the threat of war coming they have made plans to abandon the elven capitol, and sail east towards fairer lands untainted by the blight of the dark gods. The world is changing, wizard. All the old forms that exist are being swept away and a new scheme of life is coming. You came here for nothing. Seek out my daughter and keep her safe. And I will reward you in ensuring that some of the humans in your kingdom are among those that survive the coming calamities."
Chapter Sixteen
AS THE GOLD-robed priestess sang her song of sadness and separation from the god of the earth, Sebine sat quietly reflecting on the stark contrasts of the citizens and culture of Rez'el. In all outward appearances they were normal, sane people who lived clean, industrious lives. But as the day waned and the shadows grew thick across the verdant grounds surrounding the temple of the earth, the once tightly wound people relaxed and talked boisterously with each other, sharing citrus fruit and figs, olives, fresh bread, and pistachios. Groups of young men laughed as they skinned rabbits and roasted the meat over smoldering, smoking fires.
The smell of wine wafted into Sebine's nostrils and with the delicious scents of roasted meat, her mouth drooled in expectant delight. As if reading her thoughts, a young woman with long, black hair that spun and danced in playful curls handed her a glass of red wine and a thin stick crammed with meat and onions and potatoes. Sebine thanked her and the girl leaned over and planted a warm kiss on each of her cheeks. The young woman blushed and scampered away, giggling and casting mischievous eyes at her friends.
The lips of the singing priestess were red like the wine swirling in Sebine's mouth, and the princess watched the woman stretch out her long, slender arms in expressive, snake-like movements, as if her body were possessed by the sadness of the song. As the feeling of the music grew in strength, the men and women around her joined in and raised their voices in a beautiful chorus that was both unexpected and enchanting at the same time. Sebine found herself singing as best as she could, and it felt natural and easy, for though the words were unknown, they seemed familiar all the same.
When the song reached a frenzied crescendo, the eyes of those gathered around shone in admiration and devotion as they gazed at one another. This was a shifting gaze that held onto a person for a time and beamed love and empathy, then moved on to another, as if the chorus were creating a spider web of interconnection and shared affection amongst the whole group. After the song finished, many held hands and hugged one another, and Sebine heard words of praise and forgiveness spoken. Like the ritual bathing Sebine had done for most of the afternoon, the song seemed as if for a cleansing for the soul.
As the people filtered around and moved, Sebine caught sight of Tael mingling with a group of priests and priestesses near a statue of a nymphet holding a bunch of grapes. Her heart pounded in excitement and she stood and strode over to him, taking a drink of the red
wine along the way. A young priest turned and smiled at her approach.
"You must be Gulia, young Geldrin's wife." The priest flourished a hand at the others gathered around them. "Welcome to our celebration of life and of the god of the earth."
"It is our pleasure to be here." Princess Sebine smiled to the studying priests and priestesses. "I found the chorus so enchanting and beautiful."
"Yes, it is the song we sing nightly after our long day of work. Though often the words and the tune are different. We feel it brings us closer to one another, and reaffirms our mutual admiration and respect. In some cases it heals emotional wounds and soothes angry hearts."
Sebine had a hard time believing that these mild and warm people could get angry, but she nodded at the priest in a show of understanding.
"Everyone in Rez'el comes to the temple at night?" Tael said, and glanced at Sebine with uncertain eyes.
"All those of age enjoy socializing and sharing food and wine here at the temple, yes. We are a very devout people. Of course when it rains we go inside the temple itself, or some prefer many of the smaller temples and shrines in the complex. And the grounds are vast and many choose to feast and enjoy each other's company in scattered groups in the wild. All this is part of our society and culture."
"It sounds so lovely," Sebine said, though she felt a wariness fill her heart. "So unlike the cities of the Kingdom of Valance. Where the poor struggle for food and shelter, and the rich horde their money and hire guards to preserve their wealth. Where families live in separate dwellings and eat under one roof."
"That is why we feel sad," a priestess said, her sable-colored hair bobbing as she spoke. "The loneliness of living for so many people of the world. Here we exist with others in mind, sharing and living as a system, connected to the whole. In the last twenty years alone we have risen to be the wealthiest trading city in the Kingdom—a wealth we share as a society."
"And now many from across the world come and ask to join us. In fact Rez'el has grown fifty-fold in the last twenty years," the first priest said, and smiled at Tael. "I have tried to dissuade your husband from venturing on to Shaar'el, but he is most determined to participate in the holy pilgrimage to the seven sacred relics."
Sebine studied the young priest, wondering if King Braxion was the reason that so many people fled to Rez'el from the Kingdom of Valance. Perhaps to escape a life of starvation and living on the streets? But if their religion was so strong, then certainly it would spread to the rest of the kingdom? "Do you have a temple of the earth god in Shaar'el?"
The priest's face flushed at her question, and his eyes looked for support at another more senior priest. The old priest cleared his throat and spoke in low, plaintive tones. "There is a temple to the earth god in Shaar'el, but it is run by false priests who peddle amulets to pilgrims. We have tried to send priests of our own to the capitol, but there is much jealousy amongst the other temples to various gods and goddesses, and they have lobbied against our efforts to build a temple. Even the government of Shaar'el sees our way of life as a threat to them, and refuses us land to establish a sanctuary. So when we send pilgrims to visit the sacred relics, we setup in an oasis outside Shaar'el, where we can live in freedom."
"But surely they have heard enough talk of our beliefs," the young priestess said, and placed delicate hand on the arm of the old priest. "Would they not find it better to talk with those who follow our faith?" And with that the priests bowed and left Sebine alone with Tael.
She raised an eye at him in a question. "So what do you think? This certainly wasn't what I'd expected. I kind of like it here." And indeed, as the night had worn on, the people seemed more relaxed and chatted with each other in a friendly and boisterous animation.
"I think I'd like a glass of wine," Tael said, and grinned at Sebine. "You've been tempting me the whole conversation by taking sips of that delicious looking vintage."
She smiled guiltily and led him over to where she'd seen others go to retrieve their wine, and she glanced over her shoulder at Tael. "Just don't flirt with any more winemaker's daughters, ok? Leave your flirting for me tonight."
"I promise to be religious and heed the words of the priest." Tael chuckled at the confused expression no doubt forming on her face. "It's what priest Yaran said to me earlier tonight. He said I must be more devout in my attention to the physical needs of my wife."
"He said that?" Sebine felt a hot flush creep over her cheeks, and took a deep gulp of the wine. "I really like how that sounds, actually." She handed him her glass and Tael refilled the red nectar from a wooden barrel standing like a sacred altar on display for the gathered crowd talking noisily around them. He poured himself a glass and took a long drink.
"This tastes amazing, far better than the winemaker in Trikar, I must say. Don't look at me like that, I'm not thinking about his daughter. Truly, stop it. Just the wine, and only the wine..."
At her wicked laughter, Sebine invited the curious eyes of many other young people around them, including a girl with wide eyes and a happy face who looked around Sebine's age. She raised her glass in a cheer.
"Do share in your jest, pretty one. I can see you are newly joined in our celebration. From where do you hail?" The girl was flanked by another tall, lanky girl with blazing blue eyes, and a boy their age with a sad face that seemed still haunted by the song.
"We are from Cranth, a city far to the east along the Ferelian Sea." At Sebine's mention of the city the boy's eyes lit up with fear. "My husband and I were sharing a joke about a winemaker's beautiful daughter, and wondering what was better, the man's wine or his daughter."
"Please do enlighten us, though my bet is on the daughter?" The girl's face flowered into a devilish smile as she took another drink from her wine glass.
Sebine nodded and frowned at Tael in a mock display of disapproval. "Indeed the daughter, for his wine is nothing compared to the vintage here in Rez'el. There was a time once when my husband had a thing for the winemaker's most prized possession. That is of course until he set eyes on me."
"I can believe that was most certainly true," the girl said, and winked at Sebine. "You are a superbly pretty creature, and I don't doubt it for a moment that he would run after you despite a horde of dragons blocking his way."
"Yes, he did fight for me and won my heart." Sebine reached out and squeezed his hand affectionately. "Though I did have to save him. Imagine that, the girl saving the hero." She wet her lips and winked at Tael. "Now look at me, off on an adventure, drinking the finest wine in the world."
"And sharing with new friends," the girl raised a glass in a cheer, and took another drink. "I am called Emeraldia, and this is my friend Jani, and the boy with the glum face is Reese. I wonder why he seems perplexed at seeing your face?"
"I am Gulia, and this is my husband Geldrin. We have come as pilgrims visiting your fair city and learning of your beliefs, though we plan on journeying to Shaar'el to witness the worship of the seven relics."
"And will you join in with the worshippers?" Reese said, his quiet, lilting voice was slurred with drink. "Or have you merely come to spy on us?"
Emeraldia clucked her tongue in disapproval. "Nothing so morbid as that, I'm sure. Isn't that right, Sebine?"
"Oh, I rather like the allure of being a spy." Sebine grinned and lifted her long hair up in a twist and gave the girl a mysterious look. "I'd need a whole new set of clothes to match my life of intrigue and danger."
The others spurted mirthful chuckles, but the boy remained sober and dark as he addressed her once again. "So not a spy, but you hardly have the eyes of a true believer, whether of our religion or of the Calathian Church, am I correct?"
Sebine laughed with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I've spent far too much time in boring ceremonies in cathedrals filled with bishops and lines of bored-faced priests. One can hardly be expected to be devout in those environments..."
"Unless you were poor and viewed the church as a pinnacle of light and a monument of the gods."
The way Reese spoke the words caused Sebine to believe that he once considered himself a devout member of the Calathian Church. "Only the wealthy and the nobility seemed indifferent to the faith." The young man's implication was clear, especially as he stared at her with an expression of trying to remember her face.
"The thing that was clear to my eyes," Sebine said, and hardened her face as she studied his wary eyes. "Was that the Calathian Church possessed an excessive amount of wealth and did not share it with the poor and the homeless who seemed to grow in constant numbers every year. True, the wealthy and the nobility were not blameless, however those of the church spurned their chance to set a shining example of virtuous living. And what I see around me here in the temple of the earth demonstrates a beautiful example of how industry and holy belief can cooperate in harmony for the greater benefit of society."
Other young people around them had gathered to hear Princess Sebine's words, and they clapped their hands and nodded in assent. Sebine felt a bit embarrassed by all the attention, but warmed at the look of approval and pride in Tael's eyes.
"Well spoken, Sebine," Emeraldia said, and gave the Princess an admiring look. "You fit well with many of the others of your kingdom who have fled here from the madness of King Braxion and the Calathian Church. Here are also many from Erelim and Shaar'el, who have suffered much on their journey here to find peace and prosperity in Rez'el. But enough talk of ours ways and our history. The wine is making me woozy and exhilarated. Will you please hold me so I can feel the assurance of life and love?"
Sebine stretched out her arms and purred softly at Emeraldia's tender embrace, her silky fingers tracing along the skin of her exposed back. The young woman whispered nonsensical words in Sebine's ear, like the cooing sounds of a baby, or perhaps the expressions of fondness by a lover. Emeraldia was drunk and the Princess smiled to herself at the silliness and innocence of the girl's embrace.
Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) Page 10
