She moved under the waterfall to wash the mud off of her body. It felt as if her skin came to life as soon as the water touched it. It was a feeling like none she had ever felt before. She slowly began to run her hands over her body, washing the cleansing substance from her body. She was once again aware of the contours of her body as she slowly caressed herself. She was aware of the small mounds of flesh that were her breasts and the flatness of her abdomen. Her body may have been the size of a child’s, but it was the body of a full-grown woman.
When she was finished washing she stepped out from under the waterfall and approached Shaunna. "Would you like me to help you get across the pool?"
Shaunna opened her eyes, looking at the smaller woman with interest. "That would be great, thank you.”
With a shifting of flesh and bone, the small woman was almost instantly replaced by a very large white tiger. The tiger and the elf walked into the water together. Placing her good arm around the cat's neck, Shaunna clung to Narissa with all of her might.
It only took a moment to get across the pool, but in that moment Shaunna realized that she had finally found somebody she could call a friend. It was a nice feeling to have someone that you could share things with, but could she share everything?
Narissa resumed her humanoid form as they stepped out of the water. She walked over to where the blanket was still folded neatly out on the cavern floor.
Shaunna pulled a cloak out of her pouch. "This was given to me by the Old Man of the Forest. It isn't much, but it should keep you decent when you change between your two forms, as you seem to be going through outfits much faster than most.”
Narissa smiled, accepting the cloak from her. As she tied it around her neck, the cloak wrapped itself around her, forming a blouse and skirt.
Shaunna looked at Narissa thoughtfully. "Interesting, I have never seen it do that before. Try changing to your tiger form, I want to see something.”
Narissa was concerned. "What if I destroy it?"
"I don't think you will,” Shaunna answered. "It adapted to you already, I think it will adapt with you when you change as well.”
Instantaneously the small, petite, dwarf was replaced by a large white tiger. There was no ripping sound, and the cloak lay in the back of the cat like a cape.
When she shifted back the cloak again hugged her, becoming the blouse and skirt again.
"I don't think I like wearing it in my tiger form,” Narissa complained, a little whine in her voice.
"If you release the latch before you change to your feline form, I will try to make sure that I a, there to pick it up for you. When you are ready to change back approach me and I will place it around your neck,” Shaunna offered.
The larger Elf woman pulled a brush out of the pouch and began to run it through her hair. After several minutes she separated her hair into three equal sections and began to weave them together in an intricate braid.
Shaunna finished the braid and turned to put the strange brush away when Narissa approached her tentatively.
"Shaunna?" She started playing with her hair as it hung limp. "Could you... I mean…”
Shaunna smiled. "Of course, come here.”
Narissa walked over to stand in front of Shaunna. Shaunna began to run the comb through the long strands of white silk that made up Narissa's mane of hair. As she combed Narissa's hair, Shaunna began to speak.
"Thank you" Shaunna began slowly. "For saving my life.”
"You’re welcome,” Narissa answered.
"There aren't many who, knowing my ancestry, would have bothered to save me unless it was to find a crueler way to kill me.”
Silence was the only answer.
"Do you remember that time where we met in the camp a few days ago? Narissa just stood there allowing Shaunna to continue brushing her hair.
"I feel I owe you an explanation,” Shaunna began to split the long hair into three even pieces and to weave them together in a single braid. "You and I are not so different, Kitten. We both had our lives stolen from us when we were young, both had our lives shattered by the Dark Lords, and we both had our lives returned to us in a very similar matter.”
Narissa stood silently, but Shaunna could tell she was listening.
"When I was five, my parents were killed in the same attack that made Taren an orphan. I was banished from my homeland rather than killed, so great was the love of the people for my father. You see, they knew what my mother was,” Strand over strand the braid became longer as she spoke. "Through a series of events which I won't go into here, I became a very successful assassin. That’s how I have made my way through life for the past several years.
The last job I was given was to murder a young elf and his human companion. I wasn't given any more information than that. When I found him, he was in the midst of a battle that should have killed him before I could do anything, but there were a couple things I hadn't counted on.
The first was the fact that he could wield the Sword of Star Fire, the same sword that freed you from your enchantment. The second was that he was the missing son of the Elf-king Paron Elloy,” She began to wrap a piece of thread around the end of the braid so it wouldn't come out. “You see, the reason my parents were at the Elloy castle when I was five was to finalize the betrothal of me to the child prince. Suddenly, I found a way to get back the life I lost,” She turned Narissa around to face her. "There is another tie that binds you and me, however. One that is not good.”
At last Narissa spoke. "We will be hunted for failing to kill the king.”
Shaunna nodded "That is correct. I do not regret the choice I made not to kill him, however. Any chance to regain the happiness I felt as a child will be welcome. Even if that chance cannot be realized, at least it is there.”
"Why are you telling me this?" Narissa asked
"You saved my life. I figured the least I could do is tell you the truth,” The answer was more direct then Narissa had been expecting, so she didn't say anything for several moments.
"You are Taren's betrothed?" Narissa asked
Shaunna nodded "Yes.”
"Does he know this?"
"I don't think so.”
"What about Parel?" The question had been asked innocently, but it struck a chord within Shaunna that she did not like.
Choosing not to dwell on the subject she simply replied. "I'll face that situation if I have to.”
Feeling it best not to voice the thought; she knew they were both thinking, Narissa turned to examine herself in the looking-glass.
She looked good in the outfit that the cloak formed when it adapted to her. The blouse was a forest green color sewn in a simple, yet elegant, design. The skirt was semi-straight flaring slightly as it approached the floor. At her waist was a belt that helped accentuate her curves, making her look less like a child and more like an adult. Her hair was now pulled back in a single braid that brushed the floor as she moved.
Satisfied with how she looked, Narissa began to walk toward the exit.
"Wait!" Shaunna cried urgently causing Narissa to turn around. "Please do not mention anything I told you.”
Narissa smiled brightly. "Don't worry, I do not tell my friends secrets,” That said, she whirled around and walked out of the room.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Plans
“A well-laid plan is priceless.” - Anonymous
Fragments of the dream he'd been having clung to Taren's memory like cobwebs in his mind. Visions of himself with his wings on fire kept replaying themselves in his head. He thought he might have an idea of how it would feel to have that happen. It hadn't been too long ago that he had almost had his wings removed by a large cat.
She was now a member of his party.
This thought brought his mental meandering to the subject of his companions. He would have never thought a week ago that he would have been in the company of such strange people. There was the healer Ularen Hope. Taren still knew very little about him. He and Shaunna apparently
knew each other. Then there was Shaunna Nightshade. She was enigmatic at best. Narissa Silvermoon was probably the easiest for him to understand. She had been used by his enemies to try and kill him, but he had freed her from the enchantment she had been under and she had pledged her life to him. Last, and definitely most confusing, was Grathius Wolftracker. He showed up just in time to save them from the dark elf curse that had caused the spirits of murdered elves, for that's what Taren thought they looked like, to rise up against them. Each of them claimed to be descendants of those said to make up his father's personal guard and there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. They each wielded one of the swords that the original guard had used.
This brought his thoughts to the subject he had been trying to avoid since it had happened. There were those who were lost that had once been his companions. Cyan had been a faithful sword and counselor. He died when the power of the black gauntlet had overpowered Taren's mind. The evil had traveled through the mind link and caused the heart stone to shatter.
Taren had no doubt that this is what had happened to the sword. It had been Taren's fault that Cyan had died; there was no questioning that. Then there was Parel. She had been taken by Silax.
Shaunna. She was beautiful and she seemed to like him. He wasn't sure what her motivation was. She had saved his life and knew much more about his quest than he did. However, there were certain things that she was not telling him.
A sudden knock caused him to break off his scattered thinking and come back to reality. As he sat up to answer the knock the pain in his head returned in full force, causing him to cry out. The door burst open.
"Are you all right?" It was a woman's voice, but Taren couldn't tell who it was, the pain in his head was so great. He seemed to think it was someone he should know.
Shaunna entered the room with the small crossbow in her hand with a bolt of shimmering light sitting ready in the bow. Seeing that he was all right, she let go of the crossbow and went to help him, but the crossbow did not fall.
"Erik?" Taren was surprised to hear himself speak. "The crossbow's name is Erik.”
Shaunna confirmed. "Yes, this is Erik Light Bow. He was my great-grandmother’s crystal blade.”
"Shalarandra Kaardrannan. You said she was your great-grandmother,” His head hurt more as he forced himself to speak his thoughts.
"That is true,” Shaunna was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She had never expected to see Taren in such a vulnerable state when she had volunteered to come and get him for the meeting.
He placed his head in his hands. "My head really hurts.”
"It's ok, your majesty. You just rest. The meeting can wait,” Shaunna sat down on the bed, guiding Taren's head so that it would come to rest on her lap.
Taren just lay there staring up into Shaunna's beautiful face. He felt he could just lie like this forever. Then a sudden thought caused him to wince in pain.
"Meeting," Taren spoke the thought out loud.
"Yes, to finish what we started last night,” Shaunna explained.
"We had better be going,” Taren tried to rise but collapsed back into Shaunna's lap.
Shaunna began to stroke Taren's hair with her hand. "Just rest; the meeting can wait,” She repeated.
The stroking hand seemed to ease the pain in his head slightly. In fact, it felt really good, so he didn't argue.
Taren didn't know how long he lay there, but he did seem to remember another female voice asking what was going on. Shaunna had just said to tell the others that the king was suffering and would be there as soon as he could.
When Taren opened his eyes, he was staring up at the most beautiful face he had ever seen. The tan face, surrounded by hair almost as white as his, was looking down at him with a gentle loving look in her brown eyes.
I could look into this face forever. He thought to himself.
Just as the thought passed through his head; another came to crush it. What about Parel? He suddenly realized where he was.
"Are the others still waiting for us?" He asked suddenly.
"Yes, they are,” Shaunna was worried about what she was seeing in the king's eyes. He suddenly looked angry.
"Then we had better not keep them waiting,” He rose from the bed quickly, causing himself to almost fall.
Shaunna rose quickly to catch him, and he leaned on her shoulder. She wrapped her good arm around his waist, supporting him so he could walk. He followed her lead docilely allowing her to direct his steps.
They walked in silence, Shaunna gently directing him through the maze of caverns. When they arrived, everyone was looking at Taren in trepidation.
"Hope, can you..,” Shaunna began but stopped when Hope shook his head in sadness.
"No, the nature of this injury is such that I am not able to heal it. The only thing that will heal this is time, the ultimate healer,” Hope truly looked miserable as he spoke. "I am sorry.”
Shaunna lowered Taren carefully to the ground. Once he was situated, she sat right next to him.
"Where did we leave off?" Taren asked weakly.
Shaunna quickly jumped to answer the question. "We identified that the enemy is the Dark Lords. And that Taren is supposed to destroy the Sun-Fire Orb.”
The look that had been on Hope's face the previous evening quickly returned. "That's impossible. The orb can't be destroyed.”
"Yes it can,” Shaunna's voice was small as she offered the argument. "It can be destroyed, but only by the child master.”
Hope was incredulous. "Well it would help if we knew who the child master is”
"We do know who the child master is.”
The others just watched the exchange between the two silently.
"It's Taren.”
Hope made a sound that sounded like a cross between a cough and choking. "If Paron was to be believed, yes; that was one point on which my parents disagreed with him. The marks are just coincidence. What proof do you have that Taren is the one who can do this? What proof do you have that the three girls are not dead?" Hope asked
Shaunna was beginning to get angry. "I saw the girls leave. I was at the castle when it was attacked. Don't..,” Hope had been getting ready to argue that point. "You know I was there. It was then that my parents were killed. It was then that my life was shattered,” Tears began to well up in her eyes as she spoke. "I saw the War Birds. I watched them fly away with the girls. They are safe,” She was shaking with anger at this point. "As for proof of the Child Master, all I can offer is this,” She gestured towards Taren "He can wield the Sword of Star-Fire. Taren, can you show our unbelieving friend?"
Taren reached into his pocket and produced the purple crystal cylinder that he had found in the mansion. Taren closed his hand around the warm surface of the cylinder. Purple fire shot out of each end, wrapping around his hand and forming a large purple sword.
Hope's eyes went wide with fright at the sight of the sword. Narissa suddenly became very nervous. Grathius just yawned.
"Are we all agreed that this is possible then?" She was glaring at Hope as she spoke.
Everybody just nodded silently.
After the argument between Shaunna and Hope, everyone was scared to speak for fear of the contention starting up again. The room was silent for several minutes as people turned the events that had just happened over in their minds.
Taren put the sword away, not quite understanding what had just happened, but feeling remarkably better. The pain in his head was considerably less and he found he was able to focus on the task at hand much easier than before.
Shaunna looked at him in alarm as he stopped leaning on the wall to sit up a little straighter. He just smiled back reassuringly and asked the question that had been on his mind since he first started having the strange dreams that had been plaguing him for months.
"What we need to do now," his voice was surprisingly stronger as he spoke, "is find where the orb is. Shaunna," He turned to face the woman sitting next to him. "Your great-grandmother is the on
e that took it from Knoro's house in Brightbay. She supposedly took it to my mother, but I don't know anything about it. Do you have any idea where it might be?"
Shaunna's voice was almost inaudible when she answered. "No, I don't know where it is,” She paused for a moment causing an uncomfortable silence to fall over the room. "However, I do know who does.”
It took most of the next few hours to get the information from Shaunna. Every time the conversation would come back around to who had the orb, Shaunna would hastily steer the topic away from that subject. Something seemed to be bothering her about the whole thing. Once she finally divulged the information, it turned out that her grandmother was the secret keeper, the sole individual who knew where the orb was being hidden.
"The journey is going to be a dangerous one,” Shaunna tried to keep her voice steady. "The village where she lives is in the center of the Black Forest.”
This comment was met by looks of trepidation from the whole party. Even Grathius who, up to this point, had remained still through the whole meeting, looked up at this.
"I've heard stories of the Black Forest,” Hope was obviously not looking forward to going into the forest. "It's supposed to be haunted by the spirits of those that never returned from its depths.”
"As long as you're with me, you should be fine. Nothing in the forest would hurt you as long as you are with a member of my family,” Shaunna's hand strayed to the leather strap she wore around her neck. "I haven't been there for so long.”
Grathius stepped away from the wall he had been leaning against. "We leave at dawn. That should give you all time to rrrest, and it will give me time to finish gatherrring prrrovisions.”
With that, the meeting adjourned.
As they were leaving the conference room to go back to their quarters, Taren approached the tall elfin healer. "Hope, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Hope looked slightly taken aback, but nodded his acquiescence
They waited until the room was empty. Hope was the first to speak. "Your majesty, if this is about my doubts in the meeting…” He started to voice his fears but stopped as Taren raised his hands.
Master's Mind: The Dagger of Dragon Rose: Book 1 Page 15
