The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves (7 page)

“
You are referring to our contact with humans....”
Linis breathed deeply. “He is of the old way of thinking, but
so far has done nothing to hinder our efforts. Some elders distrust
him for that very reason. They imagine that he secretly aides our
cause. This is untrue, of course, though his presence here will not
help to quell the rumors.”

“
Certainly they understand that he comes because
of the Book,” said Dina.

“
None of the others know,” Linis replied.
“Aside from his personal guard, I am the only elf that knows of
his reasons.”

“
Why?” asked Lee. “Wouldn't it be to
his benefit to allow the other elders to understand why he is here?”

“
Yes,” said Linis. “But there is
another complication. As you know, Kaylia is to be killed should she
be found.”

“
I know,” growled Lee. “I went to see
her and Gewey just before I came here. I was stopped at the door by
two elf guards. Theopolou was inside, though I didn't see him.”

“
You needn't worry about Kaylia,” said
Linis. “She is the reason he is here, not the Book. He is her
uncle.”

Dina straightened in her seat and gasped. “Her
uncle? I thought her uncle was one of the elders who want her dead?”

“
No,” replied Linis. “He cannot
support her publicly, but he was strongly opposed to having her
killed before judgment could be passed. Understand, after the death
of her father he took her for his own daughter. Theopolou may be set
in his ways, but he loves Kaylia. He could not abide her
assassination. Especially when such an act breaks our traditions.”

“
I see,” said Lee thoughtfully. “Then
he is here to do what? Heal her, take her to be judged... what
exactly?”

“
To be honest, I'm not sure.” Linis
shrugged. “He knows I will not allow her to be taken. I’ve
told him as much.”

“
I hate to point this out,” said Lee. “But
he has ten guards with him. There are maybe a dozen knights in
Valshara, and most of them are either too young to have seen battle,
or too old to be effective against a trained elf warrior.”

“
I don't think it will come to that,” said
Linis. “But still, I have sent word to the other seekers.
They'll be here soon. I've instructed them to guard the way from
Valshara. If Theopolou or any of his guards try to take Kaylia, they
will be stopped.”

“
That is good,” said Lee. “Still, I am
concerned. If this meeting goes badly—”

“
If that happens,” Linis interrupted, “I
will give you time to get Dina and your mother out of danger. My
brethren will be reluctant to fight me, and that should give you
enough time to escape.”

Lee nodded. “Though I hate the idea of leaving you
to fight alone, it seems the best option.”

“
I don't like this discussion,” said Dina.
“Nothing is going to happen, and talk of killing and escaping
upsets my stomach. If it goes wrong we'll deal with it then.”

“
Quite right.” A smile returned to Linus’s
face. “We have so little time for good company and pleasant
talk. It would be a pity to waste what we have been given.”

The conversation was light for the next several hours.
Linis told them that he had sent his band of seekers along the coast
of the Western Abyss to open relations with the coastal villages,
while he contacted several small groups of elves in an attempt to
sway them to his cause but with only marginal success.

After a time they decided to take their afternoon meal
and then retire to their quarters in order to prepare for the meeting
with Theopolou.

“
I would caution you,” Linis warned Lee as
they parted. “Theopolou is soft spoken but dangerous. He may
not want to see his niece come to harm, but I doubt that sentiment
extends to you or the rest of the people here. If you notice his
escort becoming agitated, get ready to make your escape.”

Lee nodded grimly and went to his room.

A fine white linen shirt and trousers embroidered with
gold runes, along with a pair of black leather boots and matching
belt lay neatly on his bed. Steam rose from the hot water filling a
large washtub in the corner. Lee smiled. He enjoyed a long soak,
allowing the tension to flow from his body as he meditated on the
situation.

After he was clean and dry, he dressed, careful not to
wrinkle the linen, and attached his sword to his belt. It wasn't long
before there was a light rap at the door. Lee opened it. Dina stood
dressed in her best ceremonial robes, smiling sweetly.

“
I take it you're my escort,” said Lee.

“
Indeed I am. Your mother and the elves have just
entered the main receiving hall. They will begin as soon as we
arrive.”

Dina led Lee though the passages of the temple to the
western wing and down a long arched hallway. A large oak door stood
at the end. Dina entered first. The main receiving hall was
one-hundred feet long and nearly twice as wide. The walls were lined
with paintings and tapestries depicting monks, priests, and
priestesses involved in various acts of charity and bravery. Four
immense brass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the
hall. At the rear of the room, a cushioned mahogany chair sat on a
small crimson rug. There sat Lee's mother, dressed in the same white
robes Dina wore, with a deep blue sash tied loosely about her waist.

A long wooden table sat in front of the high priestess.
The elves were standing, backs to the door, next to their chairs.
They had discarded their armor in favor of multicolored shirts and
trousers made from a material that caught the light and made them
shimmer. Each had a long knife attached to their belts. That they
wore no swords somehow made Lee feel better. The elf in the middle,
though dressed similarly to the others, had a long silver ponytail
tied tightly by a black cloth and wore no weapon.

Two chairs had been placed on either side of Selena.
Dina motioned for Lee to sit in the one to her right. As he passed in
front of the table, he glanced over to the elves. Their faces were
grim as they watched Lee stand next to his seat. Theopolou was
clearly the eldest.

His skin was pale compared to the others, and the tiny
lines around his eyes and the corners of his mouth spoke of many
winters and many worries, though only Lee's keen eyesight would have
noticed. Dina stood next to the opposite chair. Lee scanned the room
for Linis but could not see him anywhere. In fact, there were no
guards of any kind. This made Lee nervous. The only way out was the
way he came in. Should the meeting go poorly, it would not be easy
for him to get his mother
and
Dina to safety.

Selena stood and addressed the room. “I bid you
welcome. I am Selena Starfinder, High Lady of Valshara and leader of
the Order of Amon Dähl. This is Sister Celandine, a historian of
our order, and this is my son—”

“
We know of the half-man,” said Theopolou,
his voice was deep and stern but tempered. “And as you and I
are acquainted we should forgo introductions, as my companions prefer
not to be named at this moment. Time is short and we have much to
discuss.”

Selena nodded and took her seat. The rest followed suit.

“
I would have Linis here,” said Lee. “It
is because of his efforts we are together today.”

Theopolou furled his brow. “You speak out of turn,
half-man. Your presence here is only allowed out of courtesy.”

Lee leveled his gaze. “My presence is not an
option,” he corrected. “You would do well to remember
that.”

The other elves shifted in their seats, but Theopolou
shot them a glance, and they settled down.

“
Son, please,” whispered Selena. “Mind
your temper.” Lee ignored her. His eyes never left Theopolou's.

“
You are bold,” said Theopolou. “I was
told as much. I was also told you ended the life of Berathis.”

Lee’s expression did not change. “I did. He
died with honor facing me in single combat. His passing weighs heavy
on my heart.”

The elves whispered to each other, but Theopolou only
nodded somberly. “If you are concerned for the safety of your
mother, you needn't fear. I gave my word to Linis just before we
entered the hall, that we will commit no violence within these walls.
It was the only way to keep him out.”

“
Why would you want to keep him out?” asked
Lee.

“
That is between Linis and me,” the old elf
replied. “But rest assured he is not far. I can have him
summoned if he is needed.” His eyes fixed on Selena. “I
assume you have brought it with you.”

Selena reached beneath her chair and pulled forth the
box containing the Book of Souls. An audible gasp came from the elves
as the High Lady held it aloft.

“
As I promised, it is here,” she said.

“
That belongs to the elves,” blurted out a
young elf sitting at the end of the table.

“
Silence,” commanded Theopolou.

The young elf lowered his eyes in obedience. “May
I approach, High Lady?” Theopolou asked.

Selena nodded and he rose to his feet and walked over to
her chair. She handed him the box, and Theopolou gently ran his
fingers across the ancient letters.

“
It
is
the Book of Souls.” He handed the box back to Selena. “How
did you come by this?”

“
It was in my possession,” said Lee. “I
inherited it from my former lord and master, Dauvis Nal’Thain.”

“
I see,” Theopolou muttered and returned to
his seat. “The Nal’Thain family is known to me. They were
fierce adversaries during the Great War. It is likely that it was
they who stole the book in the first place.”

“
Some may say it was stolen,” said Lee.
“Some might call it the spoils of war.”

“
Some might,” said Theopolou. “It
matters little. What concerns my people is what is to become of it
now. We were the keepers of the Book of Souls for generations and
believe it best left in our care.”

“
I don't understand,” said Lee. “From
what I've learned the Book of Souls was written by the Gods. Unless
I'm mistaken, you and your people don't exactly hold the Gods in high
regard.”

“
You are not mistaken. But we do not believe it
was written by the Gods alone. We believe it was written by the hand
of the Creator, and then passed into our care. We were charged with
its keeping until the time of the ‘coming of the Emancipator’.
The Emancipator will free us from the curse that took away our
understanding of The All Father. Without the Book of Souls, we will
be forever lost.”

“
I understand why you would want it so badly,”
said Selena. “But we believe it may hold the key to our own
salvation, as well.”

“
You refer to the power that grows in the north,”
said Theopolou. “We are aware of the one you call the Dark
Knight, and know that he seeks your destruction, as well as the
destruction of the Gods.”

“
And we are aware that he has contacted your
people,” said Selena. “And that many believe him to be
the reincarnation of the Demon King Rätsterfel.”

“
You know much,” said Theopolou. “Then
you must also know that we have not agreed to join his cause.”
His tone darkened. “At least not yet.”

“
A threat?” asked Selena.

“
No, High Lady. A fact. There are many who feel
that should Angrääl march, we should join them. But we have
not decided to do so. We are still uncertain of his true intentions.”

“
I'll tell you what his intentions are,”
roared Lee. “He wants to destroy everything and reshape the
world in his own image. If he is not stopped, blood will cover the
land.”

Selena placed her hand on Lee's forearm to calm him. “Do
you truly believe that there will be a place for your people in his
new world?”

“
It is that question that has caused much debate.”
Theopolou kept his eyes on Selena, ignoring Lee's agitation. “And
also why it is important that you return the Book to us.”

“
If the Book of Souls was in your possession,”
said Lee, “what's to stop you from giving it to the Dark One?”

“
How dare you!” Theopolou’s age melted
away, and he looked very much an elf warrior. The other elves jumped
to their feet, shouting curses, but none reached for their weapons.

“
It's a fair question,” said Selena calmly.
“Should we hand over the Book, what is to say that it will not
be used against us later? It is said that it only can be opened by
one who possesses the power of heaven. The Dark Knight has the Sword
of Truth. He may be able to use it to open the Book.”

“
We would never give it to him.” Theopolou
settled back down. “This I swear.”

“
Yet it may be taken from you if he knows you have
it,” said Lee. “It was taken once before.”

“
It may be taken from you as well,”
Theopolou shot back. “From what I have seen of your defenses
that could easily happen.”

“
Aside from you, your escort, and a few others,”
replied Selena. “None know the location of this temple. And
though you may not think so, we have the means to defend ourselves.”