Elf World Shadows Rising

by Matthew Pequegnat

  The bath was ready; into the bathroom he went. Renna removed his clothing and began to wash him with a soft sponge. When clean, he stepped into the wonderfully hot bath and relaxed in the warm water. It was somewhat strange having a private bath, Myst knew that in the lower level of the hotel there was a grand bath for the patrons to enjoy, as was common. “This must be for more private water sports…”

  Renna removed her black loin cloth and halter and began rubbing bath oils and conditioners into his skin and hair. She was slightly more intimate than was normal for a bath attendant, but Myst assumed that she was playing a game with him. His refusal of her had obviously piqued her naughty spirit; a challenge that no self respecting Nymph could ignore.

  Finished, he got out of the great marble tub. She followed and rubbed him dry with the soft towels. She knelt on the ground in front of him in a most demure and of course erotic pose. Her dark blue eyes flashed up at him, “Is there anything else that I can do for you Master.”

  “No, Renna that will be all for tonight. Wake me at seven with breakfast; papaya, orange-pineapple juice, and croissants with butter and jam.”

  “As you command Master, goodnight.”

  He went into the bedroom. She had unpacked his bag and put his things in the wardrobe. He picked out a fine silk short jacket, tunic and trousers in dark blue with his house crest done in muted gold thread on the left breast. The Royal oak with rising sunburst, but without the Crown was reserved for titled nobles and not lowly Knights, but it did have the rampant lion and unicorn on each side of the tree. It marked him as a member of the royal house, and he was, all be it a very distant branch. He then picked out his soft sable black boots that would go well with the outfit, and put them next to the clothes horse. He placed his sword and scabbard next to the bed. Under the pillow he hid his long dagger.

  On the door knob, he took one of the forks off the cheese plate, and placed the fork so that if anyone turned the handle from the other side, the fork would fall and clatter against the polished wood floor. He did the same thing to the double glass doors leading to the balcony. “That should do for tonight,” he confidently thought.

  He climbed into the soft embrace of the feather bed; the feel of the smooth linen sheets was wonderful, and soon he was fast asleep.

  He woke about an hour before dawn. The pleasant feel of a silky warm mouth brought him to instant wake. A hot little body under the sheets moved around him. Myst looked under the covers and saw the dark black hair and gleaming blue eyes grinning up at him. “Oh, what the hell, why not?”

  Renna smiled back at him and continued in what she was doing. “How did she get in without waking me,” thought Myst. He looked and saw that both doors were still rigged. At that point he stopped worrying about it, and dived under the sheets to handle the problem at hand.

  ~

  Later that morning, he was again sitting at his table in the sitting room. Renna was kneeling on the floor; sitting on the her feet in that peculiar way no male, whatever his race, could hope to emulate. In fact, it hurt just thinking about what it would do to his knees. He finished breakfast and started dressing. “You are a deceitful little monster you know?”

  “Yes Master that is true,” happily she smiled up at him.

  “You should beat me, it might make you feel better,” she laughed at him.

  “Don’t tempt me. It wouldn’t do any good, Nymphs being terminally stubborn.” They were too as he well knew; juvenile and highly curious, combined with their extreme stubbornness made them quite a handful. But coupled with their boundless energy, unshakable good nature, and happy go lucky attitude, made for a delightful people. It was too bad they were prized by the slave markets, because they were so delightful. No one wanted a dwarf as a house slave or a pleasure slave; those ugly and cantankerous folk were completely unusable for that work. And the Gnomes were too valuable for their skilled craft work, to be wasted as house slaves.

  Myst reached forward and pulled up the ponytail that Renna had put her lovely hair into. There at the nape of her neck was the black “S” rune. He touched it and shuddered, “How can Elves do this to other sentient beings.”

  She was looking at him questionably, not knowing what to make of this Master who showed her kindness and thought of her as a person, and not just property. She was glad that she had seduced him this morning. Not only had it been great fun, the most favorite thing in the world by far to a young Nymph, but she knew that he had taken joy out of her gift as well and that made her glad. Of course he didn’t get anywhere near the level of joy from it as she had; males not having the same ability for pleasure as females, and no other females had the ability for pleasure that Nymphs did... She felt sorry for the non Nymphs.

  Maybe if he was not in a really big hurry she might; no, he was up buckling on his sword. “Will you be back for...lunch Master?”

  “Probably not Renna, but I should be back for an early dinner, say six o’clock, and for two please.” He saw a momentary flash of disappointment, and maybe hurt in her beautiful deep blue eyes. “Have them fix your most favorite thing to eat, lass, I don’t like to eat alone so you must join me.”

  “Yes, Master.” The happiness was back in her eyes, as was the laugh in her voice.

  Myst went to the embassy to meet with the chief of intelligence, Colonel Edmond Asitain. He knew Asitain, and found it hard to believe that he had been given this important post. Who would give this difficult, most volatile, and very powerful county to a silly ass moron? Kush was as least as powerful as Freinzia the most powerful Moon Elf kingdom. Only the Empire of Naya, the chief competitor on this continent, kept the Kushians from trying to take Surin from us. While they were both empires controlled by Star Elves, they really hated each other, thank The Creator for that. “Funny how you couldn’t find anything purple in Naya, or green in Kush…”

  Of the three main continents, this one was the biggest, with each of the two Star Elf Empires controlling about a fourth. We have a small foot hold north of Kush; the Orcs control a low mountain range in the north center; the Gnomes had a inaccessible alpine home in the far north east, and the nomadic Moon Elves had a small country of Tuscan north of Naya. And the Goblins had a murky swamp land, and to the far southern part of the continent a new country founded by Half-Orcs. In the center of it all is the Waste, the only real true desert to be found. And it was a dry hell hole of bandits and monsters.

  Once it had been the center of the United Star Elf Empire, but then thousands years ago, the armies of Darkness had besieged the Star Elf capital with over three million Shadow Elves, and untold numbers of Orcs, Ogres, and Goblins. The Sun Elves and Moon Elves had landed a huge army, and were trying to break the siege, when the Star Elves panicked and tried to use the forbidden Death Magic. In a great spell that linked thousands of Star Elf mages, and even many of the mages of the Moon and Sun Elves who had been tricked about the manner of the spell that was cast. The resulting uncontrolled explosion killed at least ten million Elves who were within three hundred miles of the blast. Most of those killed were the Star Elves, over four million of their army and civilians in the area. All of the three million Shadow Elves as well as the two million plus army of the Sun and Moon as it was called, were destroyed in the violent cataclysm.

  That was the end of the Grand Elven Alliance against the Shadow Elves, the Moon Elves despise the Star Elves now, and the Sun Elves would sooner trust a troll than a Star Elf.

  The Shadow had taken advantage of this disunity, and once again was threatening world domination. But what else was new; thirty thousand years of following the Goddess of Death, had not change their megalomania.

  At last he was at the Embassy; he was let in and shown into Asitain’s office.

  “So they sent you to handle this little mess did they,” asked Asitain unpleasantly.

  “What do you know about what happened,” Myst asked as pleasantly as he possibly could while suppressing the urge to stick a dagger in him.

  “Not muc
h, old boy, sorry, but I can't be much help to you; you know how tough things are around here.”

  “I sure do old boy, don’t bother yourself, I’ll take care of my operation. Just checking in to see if you knew anything.”

  “Not a thing Myst, and don’t upset my operations here with your reckless disregard for procedures. I don’t want you contacting any of my resources; you will just waste them on this foolishness.”

  He had an arrogance that annoyed Myst, but then everything about the incompetent Asitain irritated Myst. The man was a fool and a peacock. He wore high expensive boots inlaid with gold and turquoise, that covered his calves up to his knees. His soft blindingly white tunic and trousers were skin tight; gold buttons and braid frilled at the hem. A bluish green silk sash was draped across his right shoulder, and attached to his scabbard with a knot of gold braid. He wore on his head a fine light green silk hat, with a long white ostrich feather affixed to the forehead by a emerald brooch. The hilt of his rapier was an elaborate twirl of gold and gems; it was of course useless as a sword, but a nice decoration. It must have cost a fortune to clothe and outfit this dandy, so beautifully dressed as he was. His arrogant face did nothing to hint of intelligence, but instead spoke openly that he despised those who were more clever or capable than himself..., which meant just about everyone.

  Somehow this ass was dirty; Myst was certain of that, but how, and to what extent, maybe just through ‘bought’ incompetence. There was no way he was financing his opulent lifestyle on his salary.

  “I tried being nice. Don’t get in my way Asitain. If I find out that you are sabotaging my operation you won’t survive. Do you understand, you worthless piece of dung?”

  “How dare you threaten me, I have friends at Court, I’ll have your rank Myst, you, you, barbarian.” He sneered at Myst, wrinkling his nose in disgust as if he found his scent overly distressing.

  Myst left the fool, alive, for now…, and headed back to the hotel. The sun had warmed up the day, and the streets were a hot bustle of activities. He was publicly advertising his presence here; hopefully his enemy would tip his hand.

  He kept a lookout for someone trying to follow him, and there was. A disreputable looking Elf of northern extract, probably a Moon rather than a Sun Elf. He would not be able to get into the hotel looking like that. But the trap was baited; someone would come after him now. He couldn’t have made it much easier if he had posters put up saying “Spy looking for kidnapped Ambassador”. It was just too much work looking for the bad guys, let them do all the work and come to him.

  He went through the hotel and out into the gardens, and then to the private beach behind them. The soft white sand gleamed in the afternoon light; a soft breeze cooled the air coming off the water. The beach had at least a couple hundred naked Elves lying in the sun or frolicking in the surf. A shaded cabana was in the center of the beach, and a couple of Dwarven bartenders were fixing tropical drinks for the guests. The taller of the two was really ugly, even for a dwarf. He was about five foot two and one hundred and ninety nine pounds of hard muscle. There was an ugly scar that ran down the left side of his face from scalp to jaw right over the center of his eye. Some how what ever had given him the scar hadn’t taken the eye; they were both an evil looking dark gray color.

  Myst sat down on a bar stool and waited. Presently the really ugly dwarf came over to him. “What’ll ya have there Sunny,” the dwarf asked.

  “Surprise me.”

  That was going to be a mistake; he could tell by that sudden happy look on the dwarf’s face; dwarves never smile unless its going to hurt.

  “There ya go sport, a Virgin’s Surprise.”

  It was pink, and fruity, and looked foul. He tried it. It was pure passion fruit and sugar, and what was most likely some tasteless dwarf spirit that would knock him on his butt and he would wake up days latter naked in a gutter somewhere...

  “Nice. I see you have found your true calling.” Myst tried hard not to grimace as the noxious drink went down his throat. One sip was plenty; he’d have to remember to thank Moss for it later, some way most unpleasant.

  “Same to you Colonel, how ya been?”

  “Can’t complain Moss, and you?”

  “I’ve been here for six months looking for info into what these damn rich Elves who frequent this dump are up to. And their up to every illegal and immoral thing you can imagine. It reminds me why I hate Elves.” Not that he did really; well Shadow Elves, but then everyone hated them, and also Frost Elves weren’t a favorite of his either... No he did not hate the Star Elves really; he felt sorry for them; such a waste, the squandered lives and corruption, but the term hate was a hair to strong... And he actually liked most Sun Elves, ok some, er a few... Moss had grown up in Surin as had his father and grandfather, and had lived with Sun Elves all his life. He knew that it was them that kept the Star Elves from taking his ancestral land and enslaving his people. He had served the Sun Empire his whole adult life, first as a border ranger, then sergeant, and then amazingly, as an officer. No other Elven people would let a dwarf rise to hold an officer’s commission. Now he was a lieutenant in the Intelligence and Security Service, and the person responsible was the Elf sitting in front of him.

  “You bastard, I could have been home commanding a detachment of the Governor’s bodyguard, but I listened to you, and now look at me. Stuck on a bloody beach full of indecently naked Elves, serving cocktails.”

  “I love you to Moss. Now shut up and tell me what you know, or do I gotta beat it out of ya,” Myst smiled at his old friend.

  “The ambassador was hit in the old section of the central market at about two in the afternoon. It happened in the 'Golen' Stable which is not being used anymore, no record of current ownership. My sources keep coming up with a description of a guy who was supposedly seen around the stable just before the hit. A Star Elf male, about five foot ten, one eighty, medium build, and strange pale green eyes. I’ve got that from multiple sources, and that’s weird, ya know what I mean?”

  “Sounds like the story’s a plant. I’m in room 526 by the way. What time do you get off playing bar maid?”

  “Screw you sun boy. About midnight.”

  “Come to my room. I got followed from the embassy today, so the pace should pick up soon. We’ll see if my trolling lands us a fish.” Pushing away the Virgin’s Surprise, Myst got up and wandered out of the cabana bar, thing…

  Myst headed upstairs to his room, it was getting near six and time for dinner. He opened the door and went in. A knife flashed through the air by his face, but he had already rolled clear to the right. Across the room the Elf who had followed him earlier, was pulling out his sword and charging.

  Myst drew his sword and lunged at the other Elf, who blocked and attacked again. Myst quickly twisted blades, forcing the other sword high and clear, he stepped in and bashed the Moon Elf in the forehead with the hilt of the sword. The Moon Elf dropped to the floor out cold. An amateur, the idiot didn’t have a chance. This was not the person who did the hit on the ambassador, not a chance.

  Myst looked around the apartment. No one else was hiding, waiting to stick a knife in him. Renna was on the bed, gagged and tied up. He left her there, and went back to his uninvited guest. He tied the Elf securely and put him in the wardrobe for later. He went back and untied Renna. Getting a lot of practice with knots tonight he thought to himself. “Hey there little one, everything’s fine.”

  She flew up into his arms, “There’s a man with a knife!”

  “He’s gone, don’t worry about it Renna, all taken care of. Best to forget it happened, ok?”

  “If that's what you want then. What man?” Her natural resilience took over, and she smiled at him. “Dinner is on the warming tray by the table, shall we eat? Its eggplant and cheese Zinna, my favorite.”

  “Oh… yummy, forgot Nymphs are vegetarian… I wonder if I can get a steak later.”

  They had a wonderful dinner, and afterwards took the bottle of wine into the bath and
enjoyed the evening. After playing and getting clean, they relaxed in the water, playing footsies, and talking. She told him that she came from an area called Gathor Woods in the mountains by the city of Tazco. That she was captured by slavers when she was only nineteen years old and had been a slave for nine years. She told him that her mother had escaped from the slavers, but she had been too inexperienced to get away. Like most Nymphs she did not know who her father was, Nymphs being the only race that could interbreed with other races, a natural mechanism due to the scarcity of male Nymphs. Strangely when Nymphs crossbreed the child is born fully Nymph; none of the male’s genetic make- up gets passed along.

  At nearly midnight Myst told her, “Renna, a business partner is going to stop by about midnight. It would be best if you gave us about an hour alone, come back at about one thirty, and we can get some sleep, ok.”

  “With that lovely bed, why would you want to sleep,” she teased him.

  They got out of the bath and dressed, and she left the room after a long and passionate kiss. “Well if the opposition doesn’t kill me, Renna will,” he thought. That was the danger of Nymphs, trying to keep up with them.

  A few minutes later Moss sneaked in, “Smells like Nymph in rut in here.”

  “Open a window then and get the package from my wardrobe.” Myst cast a simple noise damping spell, handy but at the limit of his limited magical ability.

  Moss dragged the Moon Elf who had tried to kill Myst over to the window.

  The Moon Elf had a blue O rune, magically branded into his forehead. The rune told Moss that the Elf was a convicted Oath Breaker, and the sky blue color was used by the Tuscan Moon Elves. You could always tell a convict, what he had done, and in what land. A gold T, was a thief from the Sun Elves, a pink F, was a forger from the gnomes, and a red D, meant someone who was under a death sentence by the Dwarves if they returned. An Oath Breaker could be a military deserter, or a runaway indentured servant, or someone who had betrayed his clan or liege lord.