by J B Forest
Formal greetings were exchanged and Alwin urged the travelers to finish their meals. The Svartans were an unusual pair, their appearances were polar opposites but he could also note the similarities in their mannerisms. It was clear that the emissaries were not merely messengers on an errand, he was sure that they held some stature within the Svartan hierarchy.
“I would like to hear more about this urgent mission. I do not know if my daughter told you that I am a member of the High Council. Sometimes I think that she is ashamed of my position. She loathes politics. If you are not too tired, maybe you can share your story with me before you retire.”
“Sir, thank you for your hospitality, time is of the essence. I will gladly report to you and hopefully gain an ally in my quest to convince your High Council to accept my proposal,” responded Connak.
“A proposal from the Svartan High Council?” Alwin asked and turned to look at his friend Elre with raised eyebrows. “This is very interesting indeed. Finish your meal and then join me in my study.” He turned to leave but stopped at the entrance to the kitchen and turned back to his daughter. “Aleesia, what is your role in all of this?”
“I came across them while on sentry duty at the outpost and escorted them back. My captain recommended that I continue to serve as their escort to Cidrean and I accepted the task,” she stated formally.
“Very well,” said her father. “Make sure that sleeping accommodations are ready for them when we are finished.” He and Elre then left the kitchen.
“Your father is a member of the Ljosan High Council? Why did you not mention this before?” asked Laosx as soon as they had the room to themselves. He could not believe that she withheld such important information from them.
“I did not want you to think that your task would be easier because of my family relationship with a member of the High Council. My father is fair and listens to reason, but he and I do not always agree. My family was not happy with my decision to accept a position at the Outpost and we have not been on friendly terms in several months,” she responded.
“Yet you brought us here in the middle of the night unannounced,” Connak stated sternly.
“I did,” she replied. “I thought that it would be easier and less complicated than explaining your presence to palace guards.”
Connak grunted in agreement, but he was not pleased that she had placed them in a potentially difficult situation. It could make his task more difficult if her father held a grudge. Although her father’s initial reception to their presence seemed promising.
Aleesia led them to her father’s study when they finished eating and left to make the necessary sleeping arrangements. They entered the room to find Alwin, Elre, and two other elves seated in the room. Alwin introduced his sons, Terric and Wyn, and invited the Svartans to join them.
Once settled, Connak began his story. He told them of the mysterious illness that was affecting the Svartan elders and of the increasing severity. He shared the High Council’s suspicions of Fae activity in the astral plane and the potential ramifications for not only the Elven Realm but all Inner Space. The most difficult part of the conversation occurred when Connak tried to explain his visions of a Fae incursion into the human world. However, with Laosx’s assistance, he seemed to be able to convince the group that his visions were credible.
The Ljosar posed many questions during the course of the discussion. They confirmed that Ljosan elders were in fact victim to similar illnesses as the Svarta. Finally, Connak explained the proposal for combining the Elven forces to stop the Fae incursion. They all sat in silence for a lengthy period while the Ljosar absorbed the information. Connak and Laosx waited patiently for a reaction.
Finally, Alwin spoke to the group. “This is a lot of information and if what you say is accurate the ramifications are great. I do not underestimate the seriousness and urgency; your proposal is not one that will be easily accepted by the High Council. Let me discuss this further with my sons and we will come together in the morning after you have rested for additional conversation. The High Council meets at midday. We will see what can be accomplished before then.”
He dismissed the Svartans and instructed Elre to take them to their sleeping quarters while he and his sons discussed the new information. Alwin and his sons discussed the Svartan story and proposal well into the night. They questioned the validity and compared parts of it to things that were occurring in Ljosar. In the end, they agreed that the emissaries presented a truthful but grave explanation for the recent events. Their proposal of a combined Elven alliance although extreme, might in fact be the only successful solution. Alwin decided that he would introduce the Svartans to the High Council and argue for acceptance of the proposal and immediate action. It would not be an easy task.
The accommodations provided to Connak and Laosx were spacious and comfortable. They were given a suite that consisted of a sitting area with plush chairs and a table with a full-sized hearth. The sitting area led to two bedrooms situated on either side of the sitting area. Both contained oversized beds and table for personal items and a separate wash closet. They were both so exhausted that neither had time to appreciate the amenities before falling fast asleep in their respective bedrooms.
They awakened before daybreak the next morning and prepared for the day’s events. They both took the time to appreciate their accommodations.
“I had a feeling that Aleesia’s family was wealthy, but I never imagined that they were members of the High Council,” said Laosx. “The entire estate is very grand, and these accommodations are much more than I anticipated, particularly for unexpected Svartan guests.”
“They are very generous indeed,” replied Connak. “I still wonder why she did not tell us about her father’s position. Her explanation last night was less than sufficient.”
“I agree, but I suspect she had her reasons. Did you have more dreams last night?” he asked his friend.
“No, I think that I was too exhausted to be receptive to any kind of premonitions or visions. I also think that finally sharing the burden of such news with at least one Ljosan representative was somewhat of a relief to me. At least they did not lock us up in a dungeon,” he smiled.
Laosx noticed his friend’s smile, and could see a difference in his appearance. He only hoped that they would be able to successfully deliver their message to the High Council.
“That is true,” he agreed. “Aleesia’s father seems to be fair. Her brothers seemed a bit wary, but if the circumstances were reversed, I would probably react similarly.”
“The fact that they have allowed us to remain in these spacious accommodations is a good sign.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Laosx crossed the room and opened the door. He came face to face with Aleesia. “Good morning,” she said as she walked into their suite, “I trust you rested well last night.”
The Svartans nodded simultaneously, “We did indeed. Our accommodations are most comfortable. It is extremely generous of your family,” Connak added.
“All of the sleeping suites in the main manor have similar accommodations. I came to take you to the kitchens to get something to eat. Today will be very busy for you.”
“Thank you,” replied Laosx. “My stomach was beginning to speak of its emptiness, although we ate before retiring for the night.”
She gave him a brief smile, “Have you forgotten so quickly that we ate very little of substance on our journey here?”
“Forgive me, but the plush surrounding has addled my brain. I barely remember the journey,” he replied with a slight bow.
“Aleesia, would you be so kind as to lead the way to the food, I am ready to begin this day and a meal sounds like a perfect start,” added Connak.
She held the door open for the two Svartans and led them through the corridors to the kitchen. They encountered a few of the household servants carrying out their daily assignments. Both Connak and Laosx took the time along the way to admire the furnishings
. The manor as Aleesia called it; was as grand as a small palace. Artwork was situated in various nooks and alcoves and positioned so that the sunlight streaming through the high windows served to spotlight the pieces. They passed through what appeared to be the main foyer of the home. It was spacious with high ceilings. Balconies from the various levels opened out into the area. The walls were decorated with portraits, presumably capturing the family’s ancestral line. The lower windows were framed with drapes of silk and damask that flowed to the ground. A grand spiral staircase led down from the upper levels and poured out into the center of the foyer.
Several rooms and more corridors led off from the foyer on the main level. They followed Aleesia down one corridor and into the kitchen area. The area was much more extensive than Laosx remembered from their late-night meal. It consisted of a large area for food preparation and storage with a sturdy wooden table and benches in the center. There were two rooms leading off from this area, one for additional storage and the other appeared to be a dining area for the family. The walls in this area were covered with shelves filled with plates, platters, cups and goblets. They were all organized by pattern.
Several people were seated at the table, conversing and passing around food. It was a scene of organized chaos. Connak recognized Aleesia’s father, Alwin, and her two brothers. He did not remember their names. A beautiful woman sat at the end of the table opposite Alwin, Connak assumed that this was Aleesia’s mother. She had a presence that exuded regal power. He had the feeling that her input was highly valued in this household. All conversation ceased as the trio entered the room. The woman was the first to break the abbreviated silence.
She rose gracefully from her chair and moved to greet Aleesia. “Daughter, please introduce me to our mysterious guests. Your father and brothers have spoken of nothing else this morning,” the woman smiled as she hugged her daughter warmly. Aleesia kissed her mother on both cheeks and then introduced Connak and Laosx to her mother.
“I am Lyra,” her mother said to the two Svartans. “You are welcome in our home. Please sit and join us in the morning meal. Hopefully I will get to hear your story first hand before my husband whisks you away to meet with the High Council.”
Connak was not sure how to respond to her last statement so he decided to avoid it altogether. “Thank you all for your kindness and hospitality. I realize that not many Svartans come to visit in Cidrean,” he said instead.
“That is a great understatement,” laughed Terric as he slapped Connak on the back in greeting. “Tell us, how did you two get selected for such a grave task?”
“And forgive my bluntness but how is it that a Svartan has skin coloring that is fairer than most Ljosans?” asked Wyn.
“Wyn, your manners,” exclaimed his mother.
“Mother, I am sure it is a question that he will be asked many times during his stay here in Cidrean. It has been a long time since our people have seen the Svarta. Many will be curious and some may even be hostile,” he responded.
“Enough interrogation let our guests enjoy their meal. They will have more than their share of questions to answer. The least we can do is offer them a bit of solace,” stated Alwin.
The conversation during the remainder of the meal focused on Aleesia and her Outpost assignment and other events occurring in Cidrean. The Svartans found out that Lyra was chancellor of the Academy of Arts. Her position explained the presence of so many pieces of artwork scattered throughout the manor. When Lyra found out that Laosx was a fellow academic, she prompted him for information regarding the structure and organization of the academic framework in Svarta. He noticed that Aleesia seemed relieved to have the focus of the conversation shifted away from her. He did not get the sense from the conversation that her family members held any grudges against her or were displeased with her position.
When the meal was completed, Lyra excused herself from the group so that she could prepare to leave for a day at the Academy. Alwin invited Aleesia to join the rest of the group in his study to discuss plans for the afternoon’s meeting with the High Council. He told his daughter that she would still serve as the official escort for the emissaries during their time in Cidrean. The presence of an armed military escort could be a useful tool to avert any potential trouble.
Alwin informed the group that he sent messengers to two of his colleagues on the Council. They were scheduled to arrive shortly to be briefed on the Svartan plan. Alwin hoped to secure their agreement to the plan prior to the High Council meeting. He knew that some members would oppose the plan simply based on the centuries of animosity between the two elven races. Alwin was aware that if the Fae had broken through the astral plane and were traveling through Inner Space invading other worlds, the elves would need to work together to defeat them. Even an elven alliance might not be sufficient based on the information provided by the Svartans.
Alwin explained that the Ljosan High Council was a body of twenty members. Half of the membership consisted of representatives from the Ljosan ruling families while the rest of the council consisted of senior scholars and leaders within the Ljosan society. Alwin’s family held a place on the High Council for several generations. They were a family of scholars whose accomplishments and support of shared knowledge secured them an almost permanent seat on the Council. Before succeeding his father as a member of the High Council, Alwin served many years as the provost for the Universtat in Cidrean. He had hopes that Aleesia would be the one to follow in his footsteps in both academia and later as a member of the High Council, however his headstrong daughter had other plans. She surprised everyone by joining the military and then rejecting a prestigious assignment with the elite guard. He was proud of her accomplishments even though she tried so hard to distance herself from the family privileges.
Elre and Orrion returned with his colleagues from the High Council, both were members of the ruling families. He had Connak relay his message and the Svartan proposal in detail to the new members of the group. Again, many questions were asked and answered. They all speculated on the meaning and impact of the information. They also discussed potential logistics for the formulation of an alliance between the two realms and the actions necessary to confront the Fae Dominion. Together, they tried to anticipate questions that other members of the High Council would ask. All agreed that time was of the essence and the discussion could not afford to disintegrate to the usual philosophical debates that were the trademark of both the Ljosan and Svartan High Council gatherings. Immediate action was necessary.
Elre accompanied Alwin and the two other Council members when they departed for the palace. Orrion would accompany Aleesia and the Svartans to the palace later that afternoon. The decision was made that the three Council members would jointly introduce the emissaries and their proposal.
Chapter 16 – 10th Century – Alba (Scotland)
Zehn and his lieutenants set out at first light as planned to reconnoiter the area. They agreed to return by midday and report their findings. Each ventured in a different direction. Seth was present when they departed and promised to oversee the encampment. Zehn provided two of his junior lieutenants to aid Seth in his absence.
Zehn traveled for almost two hours before finding the first human settlement. It pleased him that their location was a comfortable distance from human habitation. He chose to scout in this direction because it led eventually to the human king Cruim’s village. The lack of human presence, particularly armed guards, provided him with a sense of satisfaction that they had chosen their location well. He and his men would be able to establish a temporary headquarters within the confines of the forest without fear of detection. They would then be able to move about the countryside and familiarize themselves with the ways and customs of this weak race of beings.
According to his calculations, they had about 30 Earth days to settle themselves and finalize plans before meeting Cruim. The human king was ambitious and had visions of conquering the neighboring tribes to consolidate their power under his
rule. Zehn was sure that the king’s ambitions went further. He discovered evidence during the previous scouting trips that the people of Alba were plagued by invasions from other groups, in particular, an aggressive race known as Vikings from the north and an equally fierce group known as Britons from the south. By strengthening his power and uniting the people of Alba, Cruim would have a better chance of defeating his enemies.
Zehn’s role was to provide the service of his troops to assist Cruim in his quest. Once Cruim’s position was secured, Mogran would make his move. The minion troops were completely expendable and allowed Mogran to save his Unseelie army to impose his authority over Cruim once he was established as the King of Alba.
The terrain that Zehn covered was hilly but easily traversed. He had only discovered scattered dwellings and farmsteads by the time he decided to return to the base camp. There were only single families present in each of the dwellings that he spotted with more children than adults. He would wait to hear the results of his lieutenants before deciding on the next plan of action. He noted the location of the farmsteads and the number of people visible before heading back.
