Elf World Shadows Rising

by Matthew Pequegnat

  Myst climbed in next to her and Remi set across from them in the rear facing cushioned bench with his wife.

  “That has not been by my wish, Jacqueline, if I could stay here forever…”

  “Blah, words, if you want, you will, that is your nature Myst,” she responded as she kicked off her sandals and tucked her legs up under herself, sitting cross-legged.

  “And this is Lucina Martel,” Remi introduced as the strawberry blonde driver turned around and smiled at her, “our Mistress of Horse.”

  “Ah, a Moon Elf first name, but a Sun Elf surname, I was right,” Kayla thought as she smiled back at the driver. Usually elves of mixed heritage followed the paternal genetics, but there was normally a hint at the other side of the genome, sometime more evident than others.

  As they rode through the port they pointed out places of interest to her as the wheels clicked on the cobblestones, “and this is the east road gate, we are about ten miles from home,” Myst pointed out as the carriage went through a high white arched city wall gate.

  The area adjacent to the gate was nearly as developed as was the city, “Mentonferat, can’t contain the population it has grown so,” Remi explained. “But no worries, we will soon be in the peaceful countryside.”

  Jacqueline had acquired a picnic lunch for them to share on the road back to the castle. Ham and cheese on a crusty loaf of bread, goose pate, olives, and lots of the hardy red wine Provence Drakar was known for.

  Soon the group was laughing and singing as the carriage passed the miles away winding under an unending lane of Plane Trees still filling out with the years new green leaves. Kayla could tell these people truly cared for Myst, and he them, and she found herself laughing and drinking more than she normally would.

  “Chief Porter,” Kayla asked Remi?

  “Ah, yes, more civilized than Captain of the Guard, but basically the same,” he replied with a self deprecating grin, oozing charm.

  “Remi was a cavalry officer before retiring back home, his family has been in service with us for five generations,” Myst told her.

  “No, six generations,” Remi corrected, Jacqueline had put her crossed ankles in his lap and Remi was rubbing with her toes as he replied.

  “Really,” Myst asked?

  “Yes, my great grandfather's grandmother was your grandfathers grandfather Guillermo’s Mistress of Horse,... as well as mistress of his bed.”

  “Ah I think that’s five Remi…”

  Remi smiled grandly, “And I am six”!

  “Guillermo,” Kayla asked?

  Myst shrugged, “His mother was a Moon Elf.”

  “Ah, that explains everything,” she joked…

  Just then the carriage lurched and bumped.

  “No, more wine for Lucina, as she is supposedly driving,” laughed Jacqueline as they bounced over another pothole in the road that sent everyone diving to rescue their wine glasses and food. Lucina turned on the bench seat to stick out her tongue at Jacqueline and laugh.

  Kayla noticed the smell of pine and cedar in the air, but the predominant trees along the road was a vast forest of tall oaks, with beech, walnut, plane and sycamores adding variety, and here and there patches of new green grass escaping from thick drifts of old leaves. The road wound next to a river called the Ver as it went slowly into the valley between to low mountain ridges. The valley was about half a mile wide maybe somewhat more, the trees made it hard for her to judge.

  The pleasant breeze off the ocean, now a few miles away as they had wound slightly inland, mixed with the warm dappled sunshine to make Kayla relaxed enough to doze against Myst as the carriage swayed a gentle rhythm with the clip clop of the horses.

  A soft touch brought her awake, they had turned onto a path that led a couple hundred yards off the road, heading up the north slope of the Ver Valley. Sitting up she saw for the first time the beautiful castle Myst called his true home as it emerged from the lush green trees. The honey colored stones were mixed in with a spice of other colors, some grey, others pale tan, others a soft yellow hew, made a most pleasing harmony. Square towers in the left front and right rear seem to balance with a great round tower in the right front and a slim round tower in the far left. The gatehouse was set off center on the left with a large tiled building in the center. It was set on a level granite rise and behind it the mountain went steeply up a few thousand feet of rock cliff. The view behind her across the river to the mountains on the other side of the wooded valley was just as beautiful.

  The horses crossed a narrow moat on a wooden draw bridge and passed under a heavy iron gate. The open entry hall was bracketed by another iron gate leading into the castle. Myst helped her down and led her passed the inner gate into the castle proper. A corridor of warm tiles went straight before her in series of round archways and another matched corridor led off to her right, eventually forming a square, between the covered corridors, looking out, was a lovely open courtyard filled with trees and a large round pool that made her want to drop her clothing and relax in its inviting waters.

  She and Myst wandered out to the pool, the courtyard was she thought a square about a hundred feet wide. Kayla could see that there was another set of corridors above the first floor. Above her the red, ochre, and deep sienna tiled roofs shone with a warm glow that softened the hard angles of the stonework.

  From here she could see the wonderful stone work, the intricate details and designs created by using different colored and sized stones was masterful.

  Another pair of elves awaited Kayla, the first was a tall Sun Elf with a faint trace of silver at his temples of his black hair, Kayla guessed he was probably about 500 years old, give or take a century…

  “Welcome Ambassador, I am Sebastian Sauveterre the Castellan of Castle Sunstar, and this is my wife Daniela,” he introduced the tall pale flaxen hair elf, who looked less than a fifth of his age. She had, Kayla thought a rather pretty round face somewhat unusual in elves, whom curtsied to her and Myst. “And this is Zygax,” he held up his arm and from the second level balcony a emerald creature the size of a house cat whooped down and landed on Sebastian’s arm.

  The faerie dragon, whip like tail wrapped around Sebastian’s arm to steady itself, gossamer wings folded back along its body and a small curious head looked at Kayla.

  “*Zygax, welcomes,*” it purred. Kayla was not sure how much of the purring was telepathic as the words were; it did seemed to blend in together in her head somehow.

  “Thank you so much for the warm welcome, Castellan Sauveterre, Madam Sauveterre and of course to you Zygax,” Kayla replied formally to the older elf.

  “Daniela, it is good to see you again, it’s been what three years since I was honored to attend your wedding,” Myst bowed to the Castellan’s lady.

  “It is good to see you again as well my Lord, the house seems empty without a member of the Family in residence.” Daniela exchanged kisses to Myst cheeks in the less formal greeting of friends.

  “I see you still have your little companion Sebastian,” Myst noted deadpan, “It’s a wonder we still have any horses left…”

  “*Zygax, not big enough to hunts horsesss, rabbits yessssis.*”

  “Say Zygax, why since you communicate telepathically do you lysp in my head…? It not just me is it?” Myst asked.

  Kayla and Daniela just smiled, while Zygax hissed.

  “I will see your things brought up to your room, and Daniela is starting on a wonderful feast to celebrate your homecoming,” Sebastian told them as he bowed and left Myst and Kayla alone to rest from their journey.

  Kayla, sighed as she took it all in, “It’s very lovely Myst.”

  Myst smiled fondly and looked around, “The castle faces south, and is basically a square, the courtyard is also a square but set off to the upper right side of the complex, although you can only tell that by flying over it, the big buildings are on the south and west of the castle. Behind us to the south is the Great Hall, to the west side is the Grand Salon, music room, an
d game room on the main level, and the library and Lords Chambers on the upper floor. Kitchen and working rooms to the east side and work rooms to the north, guest rooms are above them. Most of the staff live in the two square towers. We are in the new tower on the second floor,” Myst pointed at a four story tower in the back of the castle.

  Myst led her to the west side of the courtyard to a set of grand stairs that connected the two main floors. The risers on the steps were decorated with tiles decorated with the Sunstar family crest, the great oak tree with rising sunburst.

  On the second floor Myst pointed to a set of doors, “I will get the key latter and show you the palatial bedchambers that Old Guillermo created, probably greater than even the Emperors own, not that I have seen the Emperor's bedroom, but you get the idea.... And heavily fortified with some lethal magic surprises… The Old Elf was quite a character it seems.”

  From the upper floor, Kayla could see the rectangle of corridors and arched openings mirrored those on the main floor, flower boxes filled each arch adding more color to the already colorful promenade.

  “When you need the facilities…”

  “How did you know?”

  Myst stopped and gestured ahead, “The Jakes are located next to each tower on both levels.”

  When she returned, Myst was waiting for her with a smile. “This is the New Tower, our room is here, the room takes up the back half of this level of the tower, and with five windows on three sides it is pleasant enough.”

  Myst opened a thick oak door and ushered her into his room, that was actually a suite with a large sitting room, with narrow floor to ceiling windows, dark hardwood floors and high rounded barrel vaulted ceiling. Off to the right was an even larger bedroom, and imperial size canopy bed with a gloriously thick feather mattress, Kayla was stunned.

  “Wow, this is grand and elegant Myst!”

  “Not bad is it?”

  Just then two young brown haired and brown eyed female Wild Elves came in with their luggage, “This is Darra and Jecca,” Myst gestured to each as he told her their names, “Twins, but not quite identical. Just put the bags in the bedroom please girls; we will unpack later.”

  “Yes, Milord,” the answered in unison, curtsying while carrying the luggage.

  “Two of the four maids… I found them after their tribe had been slaughtered by a rival Wild Elf tribe, and then had sold them into slavery. They killed the slave trader and were on the run when they found my camp about ten years ago. I discouraged the slavers who were tracking them…”

  “Nardak?”

  “Yes, you noticed the fairer skin of the northern Wild Elves.”

  “They are certainly not Southern Wild Elves Myst, I can tell the difference between slightly tan and dark nut brown skin color…”

  “Well, they could almost be East Continent Wild Elves,” Myst argued.

  “Hum maybe, it is strange that Wild Elves have such diversity of skin color, the ones from the far northern areas are paler than the palest Moon Elf, all the way to the dark coffee brown in the tropical south,” Kayla pondered.

  “Maybe the darker color is to help hide from the bloody Shadow Elves, must be miserable to share a continent with them.”

  The twins came back into the room, curtsied and giggled as they left…

  “What, shall we do until dinner,” Kayla wondered.

  “Well the pool is enticing…”

  “Humm, that sounds good, but I was thinking about trying out that feather bed,” Kayla replied as she shed her sandals and headed into the bedroom…

  ~

  Later that afternoon, Myst took her down to the courtyard, she had found soft white robes and fluffy towels awaiting them in the sitting room after their “nap”. Putting on the robes, the couple went to enjoy the pool. Lounge chairs padded in white, were set in groups by the pool, Kayla found a couple and dropped her towel on one. Myst pointed over to the grand stairs, she had missed it at first, but cleverly built into the underside of the landing that project out over the courtyard was a set of showers. Dropping her robe, she and Myst wandered over to rinse off.

  “Ah, nice, the water is warmer than I expected,” she told Myst.

  “Can’t be having cold showers, that would be so uncivilized,” he grinned at her, “Drakar may be one of the outer provinces, but it is the heart of civilization. The first Sun Elf kingdom developed here more than ten thousand years before your Old Kingdom was founded. Palantar was just a fishing camp when Mentonferat was a bustling walled trading city of twenty thousand Sun Elves…”

  Hand in hand they headed to the pool, it was round and about thirty feet in diameter, a series of steps on the west side of the pool led them into warm water about four feet deep, sloping to five feet in the very center. A carpet of smooth sapphire blue tiles covered the bottom.

  “The water comes from a warm mineral water spring; it does wonders for your skin.”

  Kayla floated on her back and lazily swam around Myst, “Fantastic, it feels wonderful, how hot is it?”

  “The magic built into the pool keeps the water at about 103 degrees in the cooler months, about 100 in the summer.”

  Across the courtyard, Kayla noticed a female elf walking their way, she looked at first to be a Star Elf, a petite brunette with green eyes, but the skin color more similar to Kayla’s. “Sangria, anyone,” she called.

  “Michaela, you know I can’t resist Sangria,” Myst called to her.

  The girl put down a copper pitcher beading with condensation next to the pool and walked over to a tray with goblets, grabbing three she came back to where Kayla and Myst were waiting, and poured the wine.

  “I’m Michaela Shadar,” the girl told Kayla as she reached down to shake hands.

  “Sorry,” Myst stopped drinking his wine, “Kayla this is Michaela, Michaela, Kayla… Now can I drink my Sangria in peace?”

  The Sangria was exceptional, Kayla could see pieces of oranges and limes floating in the red wine, considering this was early spring, it was either magic or an expensive import from the tropics. Whatever it deserved a second glass, before Myst killed the entire pitcher…

  “Don’t worry Kayla, there are two and a half bottles of wine in the pitcher, and even Myst can’t drink it all,” Michaela called as she took off her sandals, stood and shed her deep red halter and loin cloth and went to the shower for a quick rinse. She gracefully walked back, everything Michaela did was graceful thought Kayla. The Star Elf went down the steps and picked up a goblet of wine from the edge of the pool.

  “Here,” Myst poured Kayla another glassful and topped of his own.

  Michaela sat on the two foot deep step and lounged back sipping, “You are wondering about my coloring, Kayla?”

  “Are you a mind reader Michaela?”

  Laughing, “Maybe, but I have seen that puzzled look a time or two. My father was from Naya, but my mother was from Mentonferat and a Sun Elf.”

  “What do you do at the castle?”

  Michaela got out of the water and went around to the pitcher of Sangria, squatting on the balls of her feet she held up the wine, “This for one, I’m the Purser, I handle the money and oversee the estates production of wine, olive oil, citrus, and horses.” She poured herself another glass while she was talking.

  “I’ve known her since she was a kid, she seems nice but watch out she can be a terror.”

  Michaela stuck her tongue out at Myst, “You’re the one to talk Myst. Some of the things you talked me into…” She smiled a naughty smile, “But tell me about yourself Kayla…”

  Michaela was regaling Kayla with stories of young Myst, that Myst was ignoring, when another Elf walked over.

  “Welcome home Myst,” called a wavy haired dark blonde elf who was striding across the courtyard, carrying another pitcher of what Kayla hoped was more Sangria as the current one was running dry quickly...

  Myst got out of the pool and met her, giving her a quick kiss and relieving her of the wine… “It’s great to be back Adrienne,
you look delightful as ever.”

  Kayla watched as the new elf shed her robe that was embroidered with the Silver Crescent Moon of a Priestess, and walk over to the shower.

  “Welcome Kayla, I’m Adrienne Melethanel, the Healer and spiritual guide for this band, be at peace in the arms of the Goddess here child,” she intoned offhandedly.

  Adrienne downed a goblet of the wine and poured herself another while still standing on the shallow step of the pool, she gathered her hair back into a ponytail and tied it up. “Goddess, I needed that, Wren, one of the guards ‘accidently’ cut another guards ear off, and reattaching ears is a tricky thing and required a bit more healing magic than you would think. Oh and here he is, Daniel Cortier come here!”

  “Yes, Priestess…” replied a tall sandy haired Sun Elf coming over to them, he looked young to Kayla, less than fifty…

  “Join us, the pool will be good for your healing, but find Wren first and bring her too, I want to keep an eye on you too, enough surgery for one day…”

  “I’m here Adrienne,” replied a young Wild Elf stepping out from behind one of the arched columns of the southern corridor, she moved like a jungle cat across to them. Her light streaked brown hair seemed to swing like a tail as she walked.

  “Both of you take your clothes off and join us,” Adrienne directed, “at least they won’t have any bladed on them in the pool,” she whispered to Kayla.

  The two guards took more time shedding their uniforms and the various weapons than the others had needed, but eventually they headed to the showers.

  “Adrienne, I’m not sure you’re correct about Wren Greyfoix,” Michaela laughed, “She probably still has a blade or two hidden….”

  “You may be right,” Adrienne laughed in response…

  Kayla hoisted herself out of the pool, turned and sat on the edge, her legs dangling in the water, and watched as the two young elves pretended not to be aware of each other as they soaked in the pool, “Wild Elves, made wild lovers, as the saying went,” She thought, “And apparently dangerous ones!”