by Jack Bessie
When the women re-emerged with their children, Rasten was able to get a firm count, quickly determining that they were short on ways to transport the entire village. He dispatched a pair of flyers, to go to the nearest Elvin encampment, and to return with as many as they could muster. Since this would take several hours, he and the Elvin set to work, to deal with the bodies. The women were made to prepare themselves, ordered to take little; the Elvin had no lack of means with which to feed and cloth this small band of refugees.
The women said their goodbyes simply and with only tears and a few words; death had been too common for too long to greatly touch them. Now they were overwhelmed by a new fear; what would their fate be at the hands of the Elvin? Was something more terrible than death awaiting them? None of them had ever had contact with the tall and odd Elvin, who now seemed only polite and kind. That this seemed nothing like what they had been taught to believe made them uneasy and even more insecure; was the world nothing like what they had believed?
When the extra flyers arrived it was near mid-afternoon. Rasten divided up the captives as evenly as possible by what they weighed, and soon had all loaded. He had taken a modestly sized young woman with a toddler, and strapped them in front of him, admonishing the woman to hold tight to the child.
They were soon aloft, several of the woman being sick quickly, and all looking utterly terrified. Some of the older children had ridden on such a beast once or twice, and these ones seemed quite excited, and much less scared.
The trip to Alarinad was long and tiring, again taking two days. They had stopped near an Elvin town to camp and feed their captives. Knowing they were well within Elvin lands, none were inclined to try escaping, especially burdened with children as most were. The next day the Elvin stopped only twice to let their passengers relieve themselves.
Rasten did not relax until the lights of the city were visible in the distance. As they approached, the young mother sitting in front of him managed to turn, and ask what she was seeing.
“That is Alarinad, the Elvin capital...it will be your home for the foreseeable future!” he informed her. Had he been able to see her face better, he would have seen a look of abject wonder well displayed.
They landed in a large open space next to the Citadel, and Rasten summoned guards and helpers from within. He was busy dealing with this mass of Eridians, a number close to one hundred in all, when Amein arrived, curious. The Eridian women and older children seemed helplessly stunned, both by the immensity of the buildings well displayed all around them, and the vastness of the Elvin city. They also were being watched by many Elvin, who were curious to see such a mass of Eridians in their midst. Seeing an entire village worth of Eridian women and children, Amein was almost speechless, finding Rasten, and tugging on his sleeve.
“You have decided to simply take all the Eridians, and make them ours?” Amein asked, eyes sparkling.
“Apparently I have a soft heart; I had no desire to leave them to starve or suffer alone. We rendered most of them widows, and have only three prisoners,” he replied. “They know only what they have been taught of us, which is nothing flattering. The one with the reddish hair tried to stab me, but was shocked that I could speak to her, and listened to her fears!” Rasten explained what she had said, regarding a woman’s life after losing her husband. This disturbed Amein as much as it had Rasten.
“Perhaps we may help them to have a better life...you intend for them to stay...permanently?”
“I wish them to be human, not Eridian...at least for now,” he said, suddenly tired from the long ordeal.
When all had been attended to, Rasten went to find something to eat, and then took a bath. Amein had gone to settle the Eridians, in a place both secure and where they might be well cared for. When she returned to the Citadel, she went in search of Rasten, finding him at last, on the balcony outside their bedroom, staring into space. She silently walked up behind him, knowing he would be aware of her presence.
“How many did you kill?” she asked softly.
“Too many,” he replied, his voice showing the strain of his emotions.
“I hope you never feel less terrible than you do now...when you stop hurting, when you no longer see the enemy as a living thing, but as something to despise, something to just cut down and step over, with no thought or care, you will have lost your soul, and become evil!”
“You still feel miserable when you cut someone down? Even if they are utterly evil?”
“Of course! Every living thing, even the most wicked, once had the possibility of being a decent being, a caring soul. No one and nothing is born evil, Rasten, they become that way, often by the hand and mind of others. You should at least mourn the good that once was, or was once possible. Tell me, do the Eridians not believe we are evil?”
“The ones we brought back all did...they expected us to rape and kill them, at the least, or leave them to perish slowly. They were much surprised that we are not as they expect!”
“But they are the women of those who do us harm...why should we not despise them?!” she demanded.
“Because we still have a soul, and are more worthy than others might choose to be?”
Amein slipped around him, where she could lean close and kiss him. “You will be a great leader! When you can care for those who are most helpless to your power, you display a wisdom and honor that is what all Elvin yearn to have! I know how hard it is to see people you care for fall and die. That urge to seek revenge is sharp and seductive, but only if you can rise above it, will you find the better path!”
“Such a path seems hard and evil right now!”
“It will always seem so, but your feet will become surer, and you will grow beyond your doubts and misery! Come, you don’t need to have me, you just need to be held and cuddled!” she whispered, and hugged him tightly.
“It doesn’t help to feel a failure, either!” he confessed.
“Why would you? Because our people were not there? That is not your fault!” Amein scolded him.
“But we went for that purpose, not to punish the Eridians!”
“But in time, Shocara will hear of this, and perhaps consider that the taking of our people is not worth the price!”
“If she doesn’t kill all of them in spite! All we can do is hope she’s not happy with the Kaderi!”
“She killed their leader, and took the captives...that wasn’t meant to show her approval, I’m certain of that!” Amein exclaimed.
51
In spite of their desire to swiftly attack Shocara’s village, to retrieve the captive Elvin females, events conspired to prevent such an effort. The weather had been much worse than normal, rain and sleet accompanied by deep mists and creeping fogs rolling southward from the Eridian lands all the way to Alarinad.
This made flying safely impossible and caused more than one scantily clad Elf to have a cold bottom; the normal weather in the capital was never less than pleasantly cool in the winter months.
“Apparently the Eridians have managed to get their gods to curse us with their lousy climate!” Kalida declared to much laughter one evening at dinner. Elder Madrini was much amused by this, but thought to impart a bit of wisdom on those present.
“In case some of you are failing to remember, or are too young to, we are plagued by this every half century or so. It isn’t divinely inspired, but has to do with the movement of the planet! This is likely to last a month or two!”
“Really? And that’s why I get to freeze my cute butt?!” a girl of ten opined loudly, clearly outraged. She was less sure how to take the laughter of the hundred people present, who all thought her comment wickedly cheeky and amusing.
Amein leaned so she could catch the young one’s eye.
“Eliendia! My cute butt agrees with yours!” she declared, and was pleased to see the girl’s frown transformed into a wide smile; Amein well understood how harsh such mirth might touch a child, they not privy to the adult’s sense of things.
“Well, I
’m sure many Elvin bottoms, cute or otherwise would agree with you, but that’s not much help. Our captive ones are likely a lot more miserable, being well north of here!” Rasten sighed. This comment sobered the group much, all understanding the truth of it.
“How is you work with Sage Hareiastin progressing?” Midarini asked. Rasten looked awkwardly at the Elder, glancing briefly first at Amein.
“Much better than I thought likely! Apparently I would be well advised to simply do what I’m told, and not argue!” Amein was trying not to grin excessively.
“I seem to recall hearing a very wise elf tell you that!” she managed to declare smugly, before subsiding into giggles, and covering her face with her hands.
“How are the visions doing?” Midarini asked, ignoring Amein’s mirth.
“I’m now able to sometimes have one when I want, instead of just having them come randomly. I had one while flying, and thought I would end up flying into a building, or hitting the ground! I like them much better while sitting in a chair, on the ground!” Rasten sighed.
“Father had them even during battles...he could trigger one, that might last a few seconds, and gain insight about things he couldn’t see with his own eyes. Like where the enemy was hiding!” Amein suggested.
“What sort of visions are you having?” Midarini wondered. Rasten shrugged.
“All manner of things. I’ll see distant places, both Elvin and Eridian, places in the city here...I once saw Kalida in his rooms, entertaining a naughty female elf, and when I mentioned it, he confirmed that such had occurred two months in the past! I’ve had many that apparently have Shocara in them.”
“How many had her naked?” Amein demanded.
“A couple...those seemed to be in a small place...like a rough cabin...she sleeps on a pile of furs,” Rasten declared. “Other times, she’s in a village, with warriors. I wonder why I see so many with her?”
“So do I!” Amein declared, arms crossed and looking quite put out. Midarini sat, toying with his glass.
“You are drawn to her...your fates intertwined. Somehow you are destined to interact with her...to touch her life in some way, likely quite profound!” Seeing Amein’s expression, the Elder grinned.
“There are other ways to interact that don’t require sweaty nakedness, Princess, in case you’ve forgotten! Rasten may someday fight her and bring her low...or may himself be brought down. Of course, he might just end up having her too! You should consider that the lesser of evils, should it happen!”
“I’m not so sure!” Amein sniffed.
“So now I’m in trouble over my visions?!” Rasten suggested snidely, shaking his head.
“Only the ones where our enemy is naked!” Amein snipped.
“Amein! You do understand that should Rasten have Shocara, she might be well influenced...the Eridians are vulnerable to such, and she might find herself eager to entertain many new possibilities, to continue having such!” the Elder advised.
“Of course I do, but I don’t have to like such!” Amein sniffed. Rasten sat watching her, considering her manner.
“You’re jealous!”
“Of course I’m jealous...the idea of you having her seems worse than it should!”
“That’s not all you’re jealous of...you’d like to have her...you find her desirable!” Rasten insisted, and was pleased to see Amein turn red from a strong blush.
“I have things to go do!” she hissed, and stood, stomping off.
“Your insight and truthsense is a formidable combination, isn’t it?” Midarini suggested, grinning.
“Yes, but it gets me in a formidable amount of trouble with you know who easily too!” he sighed.
In spite of the bad weather, Rasten found himself still engaged in outdoor maneuvers and practice, both mounted on an allawon and a terranon. The large birds seemed much less bothered by the inclement weather than Rasten would have preferred. Wearing a full set of his mail, under the heavy flying coat, being drenched or coated with sleet, made for a miserable and tiring session. He also found no one all that sympathetic to his plight.
“Ah, Rasten...the Eridians love to battle in this horrid weather, knowing we hate it! It’s only a matter of time before they attack somewhere, so we need to be ready to deal with that! Look on the bright side...a layer of frozen sleet helps deflect arrows!” his instructor advised him one day, after a wickedly long and miserable practice.
“Just be glad you aren’t an Eridian...they don’t have mail...they wear iron breast and back plates. Care to guess how heavy those are?”
“No thanks...I almost feel sorry for the poor barbarians!” he moaned.
“You won’t after you’ve fought them a few more times!” he was advised.
When he was done, he went to practice with Master Roein. He expected the usual round of exercises, but was instead confronted by three of the Master’s best students, blades drawn, and looking eager to best him. Rasten wasted no time considering why this was so, but instead launched himself at the closest elf, driving him back, while trying to keep an eye on the others.
He had to spin and redirect rapidly, to keep all three engaged and held at bay, having noted that these ones were actually working hard to do him harm. His breathing was soon labored, and he was getting desperate, when he suddenly used his leg against one, dropping him, and disarming him handily. This let him concentrate on the other two, who were eager to use the same tactic on him, but proved less quick and strong.
All three were soon on the dirt, well defeated.
“Excellent! I wondered when you’d resort to using the rest of your skills!” Master Roein suggested. “Come...fight me!” she declared, drawing her sword in a perfect motion.
Rasten was still breathing hard, but knew he’d get no pity for the Master. The other three had managed to get up and scamper out of the way, eager to see what might happen.
The Master seemed pleased, and kept up a barrage of commentary, while Rasten remained silent, watching for the least sign of over-confidence or carelessness. He was beginning to think the Master might never slip, when he managed to turn her arm awkwardly out, and before she could recover, he hit her blade with a resounding swipe, that tore the blade from her hand. She stood, breathing hard, as Rasten touched her breast with the point of his sword.
“Was that acceptable?” he asked, before sheathing his sword. Roein stepped close, and put her hands on his shoulders. There was an intense look of delight in her eyes, as she leaned close and touched her lips to his. When she pulled back, she grinned widely.
“We are done...I can teach you no more. Now only time and experience will add to your skill! Make me proud, Lord Rasten!” she said. “Come, I would celebrate your success!” she added, giving him a naughty wink.
When Rasten finally reached the Citadel, he discovered that Amein was elsewhere, attending to her duties as a Princess. He had a bath, and changed, but was restless, and decided to go out to eat by himself. He had discovered a small cafe that served excellent food and drink, and where the servers were cute and friendly, but not inclined to proposition him too much.
When he arrived, he found a small table next to a fireplace, which burned by Elvin sorcery, and emitted much heat. Since the weather was chilly, he found this appealing.
“Ah, my favorite customer is here!” a young elf declared, she having waited on him before, and being well acquainted with who he was.
Rasten found her delightful, and ordered, after much banter and flirting. She was well clothed, in pants instead of a short skirt, a thing necessitated by the unusual coldness. Still she was adorable. Rasten was hailed and greeted by a dozen others, who somehow knew who he was, but none intruded, these ones concluding he wished to be alone, since none other was with him. The Elvin had well demonstrated a fine ability to read others, and a great respect for the wants and feelings of any they might encounter.
He soon had his drink, which was called mirka by the elves, and seemed to Rasten to be a form of beer. Whatever it
was, he enjoyed it, and had it when ever he could, preferring it over the Elvin wines.
His food soon arrived, sizzling on its plate, and while it cooled a bit, Rasten sat drinking, and idly watched those around him. He found his glance drawn to a young elf girl, sitting at a table with three others. All were laughing and busy with their conversation, clearly a group of ones still in school, out with friends and having fun.
Rasten would have paid little attention to them, but the one caught his eye, seeming to look odd in some fashion, as if perhaps she was blurred. Rasten rubbed his eyes, thinking perhaps his fatigue was impairing his sight, but even with this, she still looked different somehow than her companions.
A survey of the other patrons showed none to be odd or distorted to his sight. Rasten found this perplexing and odd, but finally shrugged and turned his attention to his food. When he looked back at the group, he discovered them leaving, and even the view of the one from behind showed the same odd appearance. He remembered the servant at the Citadel, which had seemed similarly blury, but could think of no reason why this should be.
Rasten gave up considering this, and enjoyed his meal, flirting occasionally with his server, and when he was finished, he paid and headed out, after first having to give his server a kiss. He was strolling along, headed back toward the Citadel when he noted another being, who also seemed almost blurry, as the young girl had. This one was a human in appearance, going the opposite way with a group of others.
What is this?! Rasten wondered. I need to ask Amein...or maybe Sage Hareiastin... he thought, and then promptly forgot about it.
52
Shocara had become frustrated by the fact that no one from the Kaderi had come to her. Either they had failed to choose a new leader, or were not inclined to bow to her will. She found the first possibility unlikely, the second offensive. She dispatched a messenger to discover the truth, and waited impatiently several days for his return.
