The Merchant and the Menace (7 page)

Ahead, two of these titans grew together over a
steel archway and a set of massive steel doors. Eidyn approached a guard
stationed by the doors.  After a few moments of conversation, the guard stepped
away and the doors slowly swung a few feet open. Kael and his escort hurried
through the opening before it was slammed shut.

The group stood in a passageway beneath the trees.
A thirty foot, steel tunnel had been constructed and anchored to the forest
floor ages ago. The trees were coaxed to grow against and around this tunnel.
The passageway was so large, two carts could pass one another in the tunnel
with room to spare. The high ceiling was lit by glass jars containing a
greenish, glowing gel. As Kael gazed about in awe, he noticed Eidyn staring at
him.

“For your sake, I hope you told us the truth about
yourself,” said the Elven captain. “You are about to enter the palace of Luxlor
and the Almighty help you if you lie.”

The Elf turned and strode ten paces to another set
of steel gates. He whispered through a hole and the door swung open.

The group stepped into a wide, circular opening in
the forest. The only trees visible were those they passed beneath. The wall
stretched behind Kael to both his right and left. The line of living columns
arced around the clearing, enclosing this portion of the Nagur Wood within
their formidable defenses.

Sitting within the center of this circle and
towering above even the giant white trees stood the palace of Luxlor. Shredded
clouds skirted across the sky above as the remnants of the storm sprinkled the
buildings with a fine mist. The last rays of the setting sun pierced the
fleeting clouds and struck the palace. Its surface glistened in brilliant
white.

“Its beautiful,” mumbled the boy.

Eidyn smiled as he stared at his home.

“Yes, it is,” he replied.

The Captain turned to one of several gatekeepers in
attendance and issued a series of quick commands. The soldier spun and ran
toward the palace. Captain Eidyn addressed the group.

“Diom, you are to take command of the prisoner. He
is to be presented to the royal guard immediately. Hopefully, I will be
afforded time enough to attend to business before the court is assembled,” said
Eidyn.

“Yes, captain,” answered Diom with a salute.

The Elf captain spun and ran toward the palace.
Diom nodded toward the remaining guards and prodded Kael forward toward the
shimmering white structure. As they walked, Diom turned to the prisoner.

“How in heaven’s name did you outrun the captain?
No Elf is as swift,” said Diom.

Kael furrowed his brow and questioned whether he
should say anything. Was this a trick to get him to speak? Then again, what
could he possibly say that might get him in greater trouble than he found
himself? Diom waited a moment then scowled. Kael determined silence was not the
best course of action.

“To tell you the truth, sir,” replied Kael, “I was
so frightened, I couldn’t tell what was happening. I reasoned you were
thieves.”

Diom pondered Kael’s answer then grinned.

“Swift or not, I know one thing you cannot outrun,”
Diom winked and tapped an arrow in the quiver strapped to his back. “Nothing
outruns one of these. So don’t give me any trouble while you’re in my
care
.”

“Absolutely not,” replied a wide-eyed Kael.

After several minutes walk, the group arrived at
the palace.  A small flight of steps led to a long corridor. The floor of the
hallway was made of the same white-grained wood as the rest of the castle.
Greenish light from jars similar to those Kael glimpsed in the tunnel radiated
the hallway.

After passing several connecting corridors, the
group reached a large set of doors guarded by a pair of Elven soldiers. Diom
motioned Kael to a smaller doorway inset to the right. The group entered a cozy
room filled with exquisite furniture. Rich tapestries of beautifully woven scenes
from the palace grounds of Luxlor covered the walls. Busts of Elven royalty
stood on pedestals throughout the room.

“Sit,” said Diom pointing to an embroidered
armchair.

Kael did as he was told. Diom took a chair opposite
Kael and sat as well, staring at the boy intently. The other guards stood by
the door to the room. It felt to Kael like hours went by before the door swung
open. Diom jumped to his feet and stood rigidly at attention. An elderly Elf
swept into the room and surveyed the scene. The Elf stood slightly under Kael’s
height and had a kindly, wrinkled face. He wore a blue robe with gold
embroidery and carried a jumbled bundle of scrolls.

“Well Diom, it is good to see you in the city
walls. How do you fare?” smiled the Elf.

Diom lowered his head and bowed.

“I am excellent, sir. I’m happy to see you are in
good health,” answered Diom.

“Couldn’t be better. Well now, to the business at
hand. I see you are in charge of a.... prisoner,” the Elf turned toward Kael.
“Kael Brelgson, how fare you?”

Kael stood somewhat aghast and froze as the Elf
extended a hand in friendship while trying not to spill the scrolls.

“Come now, Kael. Don’t be so taken aback. I am
Teeg, you may remember me from seasons ago when I visited your father’s inn.
You were but a small boy then.”

“Ah ... I do vaguely remember you,” replied Kael
extending his bound hands. “It’s true, I was quite young then.”

“Diom, I am sure
that
is unnecessary,” said
Teeg pointing at the leather constraint.

Diom glanced from the old Elf to Kael’s wrists then
quickly drew a dagger from beneath his cloak and cut the strap. Kael thanked
Teeg and rubbed the blood back into his hands.

“I beg your pardon Master Teeg...”

“Oh, just Teeg is fine, Kael,” cut in the Elf. “I
know you have many questions about your experience, however, you need only wait
a few short minutes before they are answered. Diom, your service was
superlative as always. I will take our guest from your hands.”

“As your honor wishes,” said Diom and he bowed.

“Kael, please follow me,” said Teeg.

The old Elf led Kael back into the hallway and past
the guards stationed at the large double doors. The doors opened and Kael
entered a long chamber with a highly vaulted ceiling. This room, although of
great size, was furnished as ornately as the anteroom. Tapestries hung on the
walls and pillars lined both sides. A sky blue carpet ran to a dais at the far
end of the room. Upon the dais were four intricately carved chairs.

In the right center chair sat a tall, distinguished
looking Elf. The Elf’s black locks were beginning to frost. He wore sky blue
vestments and a cloak with gold embroidered borders. To his right sat a
beautiful woman in a light blue gown. Her black hair was braided with spun
silver and hung over her shoulder, down her chest.

“Trust me, Kael,” whispered Teeg as they walked the
carpet, “be honest, polite and to the point and you shall be home in Kelky
tomorrow.”

Teeg nudged Kael as they stopped before the throne
and the old Elf bowed. Kael hesitated and bowed as well. As he did so, he glanced
around the throne room. A small gathering was present. The Elves in attendance
were all richly dressed with colorful vestments and robes. Kael noticed Eidyn
among those in the crowd. The Elven captain wore his cloak, a green tunic and
pants. Several medals were pinned upon his chest. Other Elves sprinkled
throughout the court were dressed similarly. The king raised his hand as Teeg
and Kael approached. The court quieted.

“Lord Teeg, why do you summon a council of the king
at this late hour?” questioned the stately Elf.

“Leinor, King of the Grey Elves. Before I address
your question, I prefer that your son, Prince Eidyn, make his report to the
court.”

All eyes turned to Eidyn. Kael narrowed his eyes in
confusion. Captain Eidyn was a prince?

“Eidyn,” replied King Leinor. “What news have you?”

Eidyn stepped to the center of the room beside Teeg
and Kael. He bowed deeply to first the king and then the queen. The queen
smiled and nodded her head to him.

“Your highness, your majesty,” said Eidyn, “my news
is not good. I suspect your fears of an ‘unnatural’ in our homeland are well
founded. These past twenty days I searched the forest from boundary to boundary
for evidence of such a creature. Where the northern tip of the Nagur meets the
Derzean Sea, in the place called Bothom’s Hollow, I found tracks. They were
faint and hard to pick out but I am certain. A Malveel prowls the Nagur.”

A gasp emitted from several in attendance.

“I followed its tracks for days,” continued Eidyn. 
“When I appeared to be close, the tracks disappeared.”

“Impossible!” scoffed an old Elf in military garb,
“A beast of such size cannot simply disappear. No such beast could elude you.”

“Thank you for your confidence, General Chani.
Nonetheless it is true, the track went cold. After several days of searching an
ever increasing circle, I admitted defeat and moved on. My task then led me to
the Eastern edges of our homeland. There by the Toxkri Swamp ...,” Eidyn paused
and studied the court members in attendance.

“Eidyn, I spoke to your cousin Gwinnen. She is not
amongst those assembled here and retired to her chambers to rest. Please
continue,” prompted Teeg.

“There I found the bodies of Lord Giar and his son
Steff,” stated Eidyn solemnly.

A murmur broke out in the Elven court. Kael
registered the dismay on the faces of the noble men and women. The soldiers,
however, stood steady and stone faced.

“Eidyn, this news is grave and makes my heart
heavy,” said King Leinor. “Please my lords and ladies. We must contain our
grief and determine the cause of such a catastrophe.”

The murmur quieted and order was restored.

“Eidyn, how did they perish?” asked Leinor.

“My lord, their bodies appeared to be torn to
shreds by a beast of some kind. I discovered the same tracks as those at
Bothom’s Hollow. I determined they were set upon by the Malveel I failed to
shadow.”

Eidyn bowed his head.

“Unfortunately, their condition did not allow me to
bring them home to Gwinnen for proper burial. I interred them where they fell
and said the rites over their graves.

“I decided to return to Luxlor as quickly as
possible with this news. I headed toward the Nagur path. After several days
travel I nearly reached my objective when I almost stumbled into the path of
this boy,” Eidyn said pointing at Kael.

The court assembly turned to study Kael. Many of
the members of the court were still reeling from Eidyn's news. Their shock
already turned to anger and he felt its focus.

“As you well know, my lord. I am a trained officer
of your elite corp. Two days previously I discovered the mutilated bodies of my
kin and knew of the presence of an ‘unnatural’ in the Nagur. Believe me when I
say I was using all of my skill and training to detect anything unusual.
However, with the Almighty as my witness, I nearly walked into the path of
this... this boy.