Questing Sucks (Book 1) (17 page)

Nero watched as his sister squawked—actually squawked in surprise. She shouted at him, her voice such a high pitch that it came out as a broken whisper.
“Sehn, watch what you say, you fool!”

Cah’lia got to her feet, and pleaded with the Elf. “Forgive him, your highness, he is but a foolish Elf and understands little of these affairs.”

Saerith laughed and waved off the remark. “Please, it is fine, I am just glad to have finally stumbled upon you two. I have been looking for you since you left Elvar. I have spoken with Suhn, and I believe there is a great mistake about to be made. Cah’lia, as prince to the throne, I demand you speak to me plainly and without formality. I must admit it is far too difficult to discuss matters of importance with the Elven formality. The same goes for you, Sehn. As your prince I demand that you also—”

“You dare make demands of the Great Sehn!”

Nero was speechless. Was Sehn actually disrespecting the prince of their race? Even for Sehn, this was going too far.

Saerith gave him an annoyed glance and turned to him. “Sehn, son of Suhn, why do you disrespect me so? Not only do you not bow, but you speak to me with such a rude tone. I am your prince.”

“And I am your God, peasant! I demand you bow before me this instant and remove one of your own body parts in apology!”

Saerith seemed to shake with anger. “Excuse me, my good Elf, but are you quite mad? I ask you again: do you know who it is you are speaking with?”

Cah’lia and Nero both made to diffuse the situation, while Rina watched clueless. The prince held out his hand, a silent order telling them not to intervene. Nero would not disobey the prince, and he suspected that neither would Cah’lia.

Sehn laughed at the prince. “Hah! I am quite sane, thank you. I know who you are, Prince Saerith. I find it insulting that you do not know me, for I am the man who shall crumble each one of your statues outside the holy city of Elvadin, and replace them with my own.”

Saerith ran his finger across his dagger, a rage beginning to form in his eyes. “I have come to you, Elf, because there are very important matters occurring under your very nose. I did not come here to quarrel, but if you continue to disrespect me, I will be forced to enact royal justice. Now, please, let us go somewhere less filthy and speak.”

“You want to go somewhere, do you prince? How about you ‘go’ fuck yourself with the pointed horn of a roaming Cockalith? Come, Nero, Rina, I want you two back at the inn at once! I’m not playing around here.”

Nero watched in awe as Sehn turned to walk away. Saerith grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around, forcing him to meet his gaze. His dagger was in his hand, and his face was a mask of fury.

“You not only turn your back to your prince, but you make such a grave insult? I should cut out your tongue for such disrespect to the throne!”

Cah’lia looked like all the blood had drained from her face, bordering on passing out.

Sehn laughed yet again. “Nero, where is my care-cup?”

Saerith held the dagger to Sehn’s neck, his dark red eyes promising death. “So, you wish to die, do you? You are too important, fool, but I might just cut one of your eyes out to teach you a lesson.”

Nero knew that a fight was going to break out; it was no longer avoidable. Sehn was going to raise a hand to royalty, among the most serious crimes an Elf could commit.

“Sehn, cease this at once!
” a voice cried out.

Patrick, Rillith, and Daniel, followed by almost fifty men on horseback, rode single file through the narrow alley.

Sehn turned to him. “Patrick, do not presume to—”

Patrick rode alongside Sehn and, leaning over in his mount, punched him in the face, causing everyone, even Saerith, to gasp in surprise as Sehn landed hard on the ground, his eyes staring daggers at Patrick.

“Forgive me, your highness. My name is Patrick Vasilis, prince and heir to the
Kingdom of the Seven Pillars.
I am both honored and flattered to have you in our fine city, and I beg you to please direct all attempts at diplomacy to me. This moron you have been speaking with is incapable of acting any differently than you have just witnessed. One cannot make a tree sing, nor can they make a cat grow wings and fly. Sehn is Sehn, and I implore you to disregard his actions. Furthermore, I respectfully ask that you refrain from murdering any more of my citizens. My men have already found the beggar you have slain on the other end of the city. I do not know how Elven customs work, but slaughtering someone, even a lowly informant, is a crime to my people.”

Saerith nodded at the prince. “My subject has been most rude with me, but I see he travels with you. Very well, please lead the way out of this disgusting place, and perhaps we can engage in respectful dialogue.”

Sehn rubbed his head and sat up. “Patrick! For your crimes against the almighty Sehn, you shall—”

He was knocked to the ground yet again; this time it was Cah’lia who hit him over the head.

“I think I know what this is about,” she said.

Saerith nodded. “Good, then you shall accompany us, Cah’lia.” Cah’lia gave Rillith a look, and the tall, scarred man nodded.

“I’ll take care of Nero and the girl…and Sehn, of course. You two do what you need to.”

Nero watched as Patrick, the prince, and his sister sped off, and turned to look at the cursing, angry Sehn.

“Sehn,” Rillith began, “you were bound to find out sooner or later, so I’ll let you know now. Patrick is the prince of our Kingdom. I understand if you’ll need a moment to take this all in. “

Sehn spat on the ground. “Like I care about something like that! He shall pay for his disrespect.”

Rillith sighed. “Somehow I had a feeling this wouldn’t shake you. Ah well, please, let’s get out of his disgusting alley.”

Nero couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Patrick was a prince of all the Human people? It was amazing. All this time, Patrick was someone so special. Nero had a feeling that things were going to be very different from now on.

 

 

Chapter 17: What is mine

 

The beauty of the inn that Patrick that had allowed them to stay at had fascinated Cah’lia: it was among the finest locations she’d ever resided. If she’d been asked then if she could even imagine a fancier place, she’d have a difficult time of it.

It was only now, sitting in the mayor’s dining hall with Patrick and her prince, that she realized just how much better things can get. The room had a golden look to it, but mostly because it was literally covered with the stuff. Every plate, goblet, and even the linings on the curtains were all tipped with gold. Servants ran back and forth with purpose, refilling drinks and bringing large plates of food. Cah’lia sat next to Patrick and Daniel, and across from them sat Prince Saerith and a woman Cah’lia believed to be his consort. Rillith was still dealing with Sehn.

“I must apologize for the lackluster environment,” Patrick said. “I did not expect to be conducting such an esteemed meeting here in Koringrath. Alas, this is the best I can do.”

Cah’lia wasn’t sure if she wanted to spit out her wine or choke on it.
This
was considered lackluster?

Saerith waved off the remark. “It is perfectly fine, Prince Vasilis. I am simply glad to be dealing with someone who engages in such…civility. Honestly, I was quite shaken up by how one of my own subjects treated me earlier. It was enough to make me momentarily forget how these matters are
supposed
to be conducted.”

Patrick let out a playful laugh. “I do understand that Sehn is your subject, Your Highness, and that I am but an outsider to your people. But I must assure you, I’ve known Sehn for quite some time, and he is not what he seems to be. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that he cannot be compared to anyone, be it Human or Elf. Sehn, as I have said earlier, is simply Sehn.”

Cah’lia watched as the two raised their wine-filled goblets, before reciting a gift of thanks in their own tongue. They drank and placed their goblets with care back on the Rezza-silk tablecloth.

“I am worried, good Prince Vasilis,” Saerith began. “I feel that some mistakes have been made; some that need correcting, and others that are the result of a lack of communication between our Kingdoms. For far too long, The Seven Pillars and the Elven people have been content to ignore one another.”

Patrick nodded. “It’s almost humorous in a way, isn’t it? The two men who will one day rule their people are engaging in a conversation several years too early, in the one city where negotiations haven’t been made in almost a millennia.”

Saerith smiled at that, and Cah’lia felt her heart beat faster at the gesture. The young Elven prince was nothing short of gorgeous. His dark red eyes filled with mirth as he nodded at Patrick.

“Indeed, Prince Vasilis. I suppose when men like us are in charge, random meetings like these can be replaced by order and planned diplomacy.”

Patrick and Saerith exchanged dark looks. Cah’lia was fairly certain she understood why. She was no master at politics, but from what little she knew, the two royals had just exchanged pleasantries, and now they would discuss the heart of the matter in earnest. Cah’lia tensed and hoped it didn’t show in her expression.

“We Humans, we have a saying: ‘Let’s put our cards on the table.’ I would not ask this of you while also requiring you to do so first. So, I will be happy to begin. Prince Saerith, I know what Sehn is. I know who he is, and I know why over the last year he has become one of the most important beings alive. My Kingdom, without his aid, will be destroyed to the point where not a single Human will number among the living. It is for this reason that I requested of high-chief Suhn the use of his child, knowing full well the gravity of what I was asking for.”

Prince Saerith nodded compassionately, which Cah’lia believed was genuine. “I see. I must ask, my good Prince Vasilis: is it the rock you seek? Or is it the flute?” Saerith chuckled. “Do not look so surprised. We know about the two items of power. But as you have said: ‘Cards on the table’ yes?”

Cah’lia hadn’t a clue what the two were speaking of. What was an item of power? From what she had been told by Patrick earlier, they needed Sehn to access some kind of treasure for them. Were these the treasures?

“If I must be honest with you, Your Highness,” Patrick responded. “I am going after the rock, which is secure and resting safely in my capital city. The fact that the rock resides in one of our own cities is among the most highly guarded secrets. So, it is with great caution that I tell you this. I am going to bring Sehn there, and he is going to unlock it for us. Then I will try for everything I am worth to bring him home one last time.”

Saerith stood up from the dining table, twirling his wine in his left hand. With his right, he rubbed his chin, and then walked over to stand beside Patrick, who also stood up and met the Elf face to face.

“This is where we have our problem, Prince Vasilis. The Elven people are not blind to the suffering of your kind. We want to see Humans make it through these troubled times as well as Elves. Return Sehn to my company, and I will bring him to Elvadin, where he can unlock the flute. I see once again you look surprised. It makes sense though, does it not? That wretched man, he has the rest of the items. But as I speak with you, now at the very least we know why he has thus far been unable to obtain the final two Items he needs, and why he is building the largest army the world has ever seen. He must know where these two Items rest, and he will be coming for them.”

Cah’lia felt like she would pass out at any moment. None of this made sense to her. What army was being built? What good could a rock and a flute do?

“In the interest of time, Prince Saerith, the Kingdom’s Pillar is a bit closer than Elvadin, and we only need one Item to put a stop to the Hawk’s plans. I also worry that the Elves will act to protect their own people, and when the time comes humanity will be left to rot.”

Saerith narrowed his eyes on Patrick. “And you believe the Elves do not have the same fear as Humans?”

Even with everything that Cah’lia didn’t understand, the heart of the matter was now as clear as day. From what she could gather, Sehn could obtain two things that no one else was able. One rested in the capital city of the Elven people, and one with the Humans in the Pillar of Hope. Sehn would only live long enough to claim one, and there was an enemy that was bearing down on both of them. Neither Kingdom trusted each other, so now they were arguing over who ‘gets’ Sehn. To them he wasn’t even a person, just an object with an expiration date.

Cah’lia couldn’t control herself, and in the face of her own prince, she slammed her goblet against the table and stood up to join the two. They shot her odd looks, clearly surprised that someone with no significance would behave in such a way. Here she was, a lowly Elf, about to chew out two of the most powerful men in the world.

“You two,” Cah’lia said, putting disappointment into each word, “I don’t pretend to know as much as either of you, but some things here are pretty obvious. Whatever is happening, it sounds like something very terrible is about to befall our world. I don’t know why, or what it is we’re even dealing with, but if there is something in this world that can save it, then why are you two only thinking about power? Stop glaring at me, you two! I can hear it in each word of this little game you boys are playing. Something tells me that whatever this ‘thing’ is you’re after, it will still exist once you’ve saved our lives with it. Each of you is fearful about who will hold such an object after whatever the problem we face is dealt with.”

Cah’lia shook her head. Never had she felt such disappointment toward the people of her world.

“I know I’m not royalty, but my father used to have me study politics. I know where a conversation like this ends up. First, you will each call in some advisors. Then, shortly after, a few more will arrive. Before any of us realize it, Koringrath will have just become the number one political city in the entire world, with every Human and Elven noble weighing in on the issue until this giant army shows up at its front door!”

Patrick and Saerith glanced at each other for just a moment, and for an instant, they looked ashamed. “Cah’lia,” Patrick said, “that is not our intention at all. We are merely trying to decide what the best course of action is to—”

“I know it’s not your intent!” Cah’lia didn’t care that she was screaming at royalty. “But that’s where this is going to end up!”

Saerith turned to her, and did the last thing in the world Cah’lia would have expected of him. He got to his knees, gently lifting her arm, and kissed her the back of her hand.

“Cah’lia is such a beautiful name,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “To show such courage, what prince could be happier to have such an Elf among his race?”

Cah’lia blushed, feeling both angry and flattered at the same time. The prince of the Elven people had just kissed her hand and knelt down before her. Had he gone insane? Prince Saerith stood back to his feet and turned to Patrick.

“She’s right, you know? No matter how long we have this conversation, we will never come to an agreement. We truly are at an impasse.”

Patrick nodded, but it was filled with reluctance. He didn’t seem to like hearing what was so painfully the truth.

“Since Sehn is an Elf and thus my subject,” Saerith began, “it is, unfortunately, within my right to reclaim him. I know that can sound harsh to you, Prince Vasilis, but was he a Human, you’d say the same.”

Patrick stood his ground. “But he won’t go with you, Prince Saerith. Sehn will not budge an inch for you. Surely you must know that just based on your short meeting with him. He has already agreed to come with me, and it has taken me a very long time to get him to that point. I had to spend months gaining his trust. Do you really think he will go with you just because you command it so?”

Saerith didn’t appear disturbed by Patrick’s words. “No, I don’t think anything I can do or say will make him cooperate. It is for this reason that, even if I have to cut off his arms and legs and throw him in a sack, I will do so. It is for the future of both our people, and all that lives in this world.”

Upon hearing this, Cah’lia regretted hitting Sehn. She should have let the Elf shout all of his vulgarities at their prince.

“
How can you say that?”
she shouted at her prince. “Sehn doesn’t even know why he’s being brought along. He thinks he’s being given some great treasure, to build a life for himself with. Will no one ask
him
how he feels about this? Will no one tell
him
the truth?”

Patrick spun around towards Cah’lia and frowned at her. “Show some respect to your prince, Cah’lia! Behave yourself at once!”

Now Cah’lia was confused. Why was Patrick taking Saerith’s side?

That’s right,
she remembered.
For all his acts of friendship toward Sehn, deep down he only sees Sehn as a tool to be used. No different from Prince Saerith.

“Thank you, Prince Vasilis,” Prince Saerith said, “but I do understand where the lovely Cah’lia is coming from. It warms my heart to see such compassion in one of my Elves, even if they are unable to think of the bigger picture.”

Cah’lia had to bite her own tongue to prevent herself from leaping at the prince. It was a treasonous thought but emotions outweighed logic. They both looked at her with pity and understanding, mingling with a frightening yet grim determination.