by Jeff Inlo
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Lief spoke barely a word to the other elves that surrounded him. His eyes drifted across the grounds of Dark Spruce. He searched for Petiole, but found no sign of the elder. For the most part, he ignored the questions of those eager to hear news of the events in Dunop, until someone asked how he survived the shadow trees.
Lief's eyes narrowed, his voice rang out bitterly. "I survived because Ryson Acumen showed greater courage than our leader. I survived because cliff behemoths are far wiser than Petiole could ever hope to be."
The crowd of elves revealed shock. Some tensed, others gasped, but the whole waited for some shred of explanation.
Lief gave it willingly, angrily. "The shadow tree seeds should never have been dropped. It was the action of a coward, a weak and sniveling coward. A river rogue would have greater sense."
Lief turned about to find any objection. He was met with only stunned silence. He still could not find Petiole. He fumed. "Where is our elder? Where is the fool who would not hold to his word? Where is the jackass that would dare to repeat the greatest crime of our race?"
One from the crowd called out meekly. "He waits at the far eastern perimeter. He counsels with the guard."
Lief shook his head in disgust. "He counsels with no one. He hides like a worm in the mud. He looks to the guard for protection, but he can not hide from what he must admit. Follow me. All of you follow me."
Lief stormed through the crowd. He moved to the east, straining to find a silhouette in the shadows. When he spotted a lone figure lurking behind an old oak, he moved upon it with judgment in his mind.
Petiole immediately called for guards to his side. They seemed to take too long, but they reached him before Lief.
Lief scorned the sight. He ignored the guards. His eyes lit on Petiole with angry purpose. The words dripped from his mouth like poison from a snake. "You dropped the seeds. You didn't give us the time you promised. You broke your word, and you committed a crime."
Petiole cringed. "I committed no crime!" The elder scrambled to find excuses. "I sought only the protection of my camp. You did not return. I had to think of the others."
"You thought only of yourself!" Lief hissed. "And you are a criminal. The war was over! Yave was defeated, removed from power. The cliff behemoths saw to that. They declared there would be no further violence, but then the seeds fell. You dropped them after the battle was won!"
"I had no idea!" Petiole whined.
"You gave us five days!" Lief growled. "If you kept your word, you would have known."
Petiole looked upon the crowd of elves, elves of his camp, elves that were supposed to follow his word. He saw doubt in their eyes. Lief was destroying his ability to lead—not just questioning his authority, but removing it. He fought back like a trapped animal with no way of escape.
"Do not tell me what my word was! Why would you need such time? How was I to know the cliff behemoths would intervene. The delver said they would not come. I was misinformed. I made decisions based solely on the safety of this camp."
"Fire upon you!" Lief cursed. "You think only of yourself. And you spout lies. Don't you think I know what has happened since I left? I have heard the news. The dwarf army was forced to retreat from Burbon. They suffered heavy casualties. There was no chance of an attack on our camp. You knew that. You dropped the seeds out of your own fear!"
The other elves considered the point. News had spread of the battle at Burbon. They all knew of the dwarf defeat. Petiole should have known as well. Why would he order the seeds dropped if he knew the dwarves suffered such great losses? More than one set of eyes fell harshly upon the elder.
Lief fed their anger, raised more questions. "Why would you even risk such a thing? Did you discuss the action with other elf camps? Did you even consider it?"
Petiole fought to defend his actions. "Why must I consult with other camps? We are the ones that faced the danger. Other camps, elf or not, should have no say in our personal matters."
Lief could not hold his fury, and had no desire to do so. "You imbecile! Have you no brain?! Dropping shadow tree seeds on Dunop is more than a reaction to a raid. It is an act of barbarism. Dwarves from all of Uton would hear of the deed. What do you think would be happening now if the delver did not save Dunop? Every dwarf city would be ready to raise arms against us. Another elf-dwarf war! That's what you would have caused."
The possibility rang true. Many elves cringed at the thought. All out war with the dwarves would be beyond disastrous.
Petiole wavered with indecision. He pained for a way out, an escape from the accusing mob. "What else was I to do? Yes, I heard the news of the dwarf attack on Burbon. I believed it meant you failed. That is why I dropped the seeds."
Lief sent the dagger strike to Petiole. "You dropped the seeds because you are weak, because you are not like Mappel."
Petiole erupted. "No, I am not Mappel! Every elf talks of Mappel. No one listens to me. Every time I make a decision, I face the same question. Is that what Mappel would have done? I don't care what Mappel would have done! I am the elder of this camp. I make the decisions. Now, I order that you be banished from this camp. You have questioned my authority for the last time. I order the guards to escort you away from Dark Spruce."
Lief glared. “I know too well the tradition and oath that binds the guard. I know it well enough to say that though they must protect the camp elder, they must also follow the law, the law you have now broken for all to see. You ordered the use of shadow trees when they were no longer needed. You broke your word and risked all out war. You failed to act in the best interests of this camp, indeed for the best interest of all the elves. You did so out of your own cowardly reasons. Do any of your advisors or counselors deny this?”
As Lief looked around, not one spoke out in denial.
“Does anyone refute the charges I have named against this elf?”
Again, silence.
Petiole stammered. “You cannot make any charges. You are banished. Guards, take him away now!”
The guards did not move.
Petiole stood aghast. "Take him, I said."
The guards on the ground returned to the trees. Petiole cringed with horror and disbelief, stepped back with a weakening will and a festering fear.
Lief eyed Petiole with disgust. "The camp must decide what to do with you. You have committed a crime too atrocious to simply ignore. Dropping the seeds could have meant a greater war, it could have meant the lives of far too many."
"He must pay for his crime," an elf called from the crowd.
"He should be turned over to Dunop," another stated. "It is the dwarves that must decide the just punishment."
Lief nodded in agreement, as did many others.
