To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice (29 page)

51

In spite of their desire to swiftly attack Shocara’s village, to retrieve the captive Elvin females, events conspired to prevent such an effort. The weather had been much worse than normal, rain and sleet accompanied by deep mists and creeping fogs rolling southward from the Eridian lands all the way to Alarinad.

This made flying safely impossible and caused more than one scantily clad Elf to have a cold bottom; the normal weather in the capital was never less than pleasantly cool in the winter months.

“Apparently the Eridians have managed to get their gods to curse us with their lousy climate!” Kalida declared to much laughter one evening at dinner. Elder Madrini was much amused by this, but thought to impart a bit of wisdom on those present.

“In case some of you are failing to remember, or are too young to, we are plagued by this every half century or so. It isn’t divinely inspired, but has to do with the movement of the planet! This is likely to last a month or two!”

“Really? And that’s why I get to freeze my cute butt?!” a girl of ten opined loudly, clearly outraged. She was less sure how to take the laughter of the hundred people present, who all thought her comment wickedly cheeky and amusing.

Amein leaned so she could catch the young one’s eye.

“Eliendia! My cute butt agrees with yours!” she declared, and was pleased to see the girl’s frown transformed into a wide smile; Amein well understood how harsh such mirth might touch a child, they not privy to the adult’s sense of things.

“Well, I’m sure many Elvin bottoms, cute or otherwise would agree with you, but that’s not much help. Our captive ones are likely a lot more miserable, being well north of here!” Rasten sighed. This comment sobered the group much, all understanding the truth of it.

“How is you work with Sage Hareiastin progressing?” Midarini asked. Rasten looked awkwardly at the Elder, glancing briefly first at Amein.

“Much better than I thought likely! Apparently I would be well advised to simply do what I’m told, and not argue!” Amein was trying not to grin excessively.

“I seem to recall hearing a very wise elf tell you that!” she managed to declare smugly, before subsiding into giggles, and covering her face with her hands.

“How are the visions doing?” Midarini asked, ignoring Amein’s mirth.

“I’m now able to sometimes have one when I want, instead of just having them come randomly. I had one while flying, and thought I would end up flying into a building, or hitting the ground! I like them much better while sitting in a chair, on the ground!” Rasten sighed.

“Father had them even during battles...he could trigger one, that might last a few seconds, and gain insight about things he couldn’t see with his own eyes. Like where the enemy was hiding!” Amein suggested.

“What sort of visions are you having?” Midarini wondered. Rasten shrugged.

“All manner of things. I’ll see distant places, both Elvin and Eridian, places in the city  here...I once saw Kalida in his rooms, entertaining a naughty female elf, and when I mentioned it, he confirmed that such had occurred two months in the past! I’ve had many that apparently have Shocara in them.”

“How many had her naked?” Amein demanded.

“A couple...those seemed to be in a small place...like a rough cabin...she sleeps on a pile of furs,” Rasten declared. “Other times, she’s in a village, with warriors. I wonder why I see so many with her?”

“So do I!” Amein declared, arms crossed and looking quite put out. Midarini sat, toying with his glass.

“You are drawn to her...your fates intertwined. Somehow you are destined to interact with her...to touch her life in some way, likely quite profound!” Seeing Amein’s expression, the Elder grinned.

“There are other ways to interact that don’t require sweaty nakedness, Princess, in case you’ve forgotten! Rasten may someday fight her and bring her low...or may himself be brought down. Of course, he might just end up having her too! You should consider that the lesser of evils, should it happen!”

“I’m not so sure!” Amein sniffed.

“So now I’m in trouble over my visions?!” Rasten suggested snidely, shaking his head.

“Only the ones where our enemy is naked!” Amein snipped.

“Amein! You do understand that should Rasten have Shocara, she might be well influenced...the Eridians are vulnerable to such, and she might find herself eager to entertain many new possibilities, to continue having such!” the Elder advised.

“Of course I do, but I don’t have to like such!” Amein sniffed. Rasten sat watching her, considering her manner.

“You’re jealous!”

“Of course I’m jealous...the idea of you having her seems worse than it should!”

“That’s not all you’re jealous of...you’d like to have her...you find her desirable!” Rasten insisted, and was pleased to see Amein turn red from a strong blush.

“I have things to go do!” she hissed, and stood, stomping off.

“Your insight and truthsense is a formidable combination, isn’t it?” Midarini suggested, grinning.

“Yes, but it gets me in a formidable amount of trouble with you know who easily too!” he sighed.

In spite of the bad weather, Rasten found himself still engaged in outdoor maneuvers and practice, both mounted on an allawon and a terranon. The large birds seemed much less bothered by the inclement weather than Rasten would have preferred. Wearing a full set of his mail, under the heavy flying coat, being drenched or coated with sleet, made for a miserable and tiring session. He also found no one all that sympathetic to his plight.

“Ah, Rasten...the Eridians love to battle in this horrid weather, knowing we hate it! It’s only a matter of time before they attack somewhere, so we need to be ready to deal with that! Look on the bright side...a layer of frozen sleet helps deflect arrows!” his instructor advised him one day, after a wickedly long and miserable practice.

“Just be glad you aren’t an Eridian...they don’t have mail...they wear iron breast and back plates. Care to guess how heavy those are?”

“No thanks...I almost feel sorry for the poor barbarians!” he moaned. 

“You won’t after you’ve fought them a few more times!” he was advised.

When he was done, he went to practice with Master Roein. He expected the usual round of exercises, but was instead confronted by three of the Master’s best students, blades drawn, and looking eager to best him. Rasten wasted no time considering why this was so, but instead launched himself at the closest elf, driving him back, while trying to keep an eye on the others.

He had to spin and redirect rapidly, to keep all three engaged and held at bay, having noted that these ones were actually working hard to do him harm. His breathing was soon labored, and he was getting desperate, when he suddenly used his leg against one, dropping him, and disarming him handily. This let him concentrate on the other two, who were eager to use the same tactic on him, but proved less quick and strong.

All three were soon on the dirt, well defeated.

“Excellent! I wondered when you’d resort to using the rest of your skills!” Master Roein suggested. “Come...fight me!” she declared, drawing her sword in a perfect motion.

Rasten was still breathing hard, but knew he’d get no pity for the Master. The other three had managed to get up and scamper out of the way, eager to see what might happen.

The Master seemed pleased, and kept up a barrage of commentary, while Rasten remained silent, watching for the least sign of over-confidence or carelessness. He was beginning to think the Master might never slip, when he managed to turn her arm awkwardly out, and before she could recover, he hit her blade with a resounding swipe, that tore the blade from her hand. She stood, breathing hard, as Rasten touched her breast with the point of his sword.

“Was that acceptable?” he asked, before sheathing his sword. Roein stepped close, and put her hands on his shoulders. There was an intense look of delight in her eyes, as she leaned close and touched her lips to his. When she pulled back, she grinned widely.

“We are done...I can teach you no more. Now only time and experience will add to your skill! Make me proud, Lord Rasten!” she said. “Come, I would celebrate your success!” she added, giving him a naughty wink.

When Rasten finally reached the Citadel, he discovered that Amein was elsewhere, attending to her duties as a Princess. He had a bath, and changed, but was restless, and decided to go out to eat by himself. He had discovered a small cafe that served excellent food and drink, and where the servers were cute and friendly, but not inclined to proposition him too much.

When he arrived, he found a small table next to a fireplace, which burned by Elvin sorcery, and emitted much heat. Since the weather was chilly, he found this appealing.

“Ah, my favorite customer is here!” a young elf declared, she having waited on him before, and being well acquainted with who he was.

Rasten found her delightful, and ordered, after much banter and flirting. She was well clothed, in pants instead of a short skirt, a thing necessitated by the unusual coldness. Still she was adorable. Rasten was hailed and greeted by a dozen others, who somehow knew who he was, but none intruded, these ones concluding he wished to be alone, since none other was with him. The Elvin had well demonstrated a fine ability to read others, and a great respect for the wants and feelings of any they might encounter.

He soon had his drink, which was called mirka by the elves, and seemed to Rasten to be a form of beer. Whatever it was, he enjoyed it, and had it when ever he could, preferring it over the Elvin wines.

His food soon arrived, sizzling on its plate, and while it cooled a bit, Rasten sat drinking, and idly watched those around him. He found his glance drawn to a young elf girl, sitting at a table with three others. All were laughing and busy with their conversation, clearly a group of ones still in school, out with friends and having fun.

Rasten would have paid little attention to them, but the one caught his eye, seeming to look odd in some fashion, as if perhaps she was blurred. Rasten rubbed his eyes, thinking perhaps his fatigue was impairing his sight, but even with this, she still looked different somehow than her companions.

A survey of the other patrons showed none to be odd or distorted to his sight. Rasten found this perplexing and odd, but finally shrugged and turned his attention to his food. When he looked back at the group, he discovered them leaving, and even the view of the one from behind showed the same odd appearance. He remembered the servant at the Citadel, which had seemed similarly blury, but could think of no reason why this should be.

Rasten gave up considering this, and enjoyed his meal, flirting occasionally with his server, and when he was finished, he paid and headed out, after first having to give his server a kiss. He was strolling along, headed back toward the Citadel when he noted another being, who also seemed almost blurry, as the young girl had. This one was a human in appearance, going the opposite way with a group of others.

What is this?!
Rasten wondered.
I need to ask Amein...or maybe Sage Hareiastin...
he thought, and then promptly forgot about it.

52

Shocara had become frustrated by the fact that no one from the Kaderi had come to her. Either they had failed to choose a new leader, or were not inclined to bow to her will. She found the first possibility unlikely, the second offensive. She dispatched a messenger to discover the truth, and waited impatiently several days for his return.

Her arm had healed and improved enough for her to begin exercising it, to regain the strength she had lost due to her injury.

It was late on the fifth day when her man returned, looking grim and much disturbed.

“What ails you? Are the Kaderi being stupid?” she demanded, pleased that they at least hadn’t killed her messenger.

“No princess...the village of Quomdar is empty! Not a single one of our people is there! The houses are intact, the animals mostly alive, but...” he fell silent, the magnitude of this appalling.

“Then I was likely correct...you saw no sign of the Elvin? What of the houses...are they ransacked?”

“No Princess...I saw nothing taken or disturbed...it was like the people vanished!”

“I must see it for myself. Hacarim! Prepare a dozen to fly at first light! We must see what their fate was, as it might well be our own! Jarinda! Did you search around the village?”

“No Princess, only partly...I looked in a dozen houses, and went from end to end, but it seemed eerie and cursed somehow!” he sighed, he like most Eridians being quite superstitious.  

When she spoke to Garen, he seemed much fascinated by the news.

“A whole village...gone? Another tribe would have burned it, after taking everything of value! You don’t think it was Eridians who did this, do you?”

“Hardly...I think I am well proven correct; likely the Elvin have come, to demonstrate their displeasure!”

“That disturbs you. Why?”

“Dear Garen...many among the Elvin speak our words, and will have no trouble asking the people of the village who took their females. I am sure I am well known, and not much admired already, among the Elvin, and the idea that I might possess their women folk will not improve that regard any! You might soon wish you were any but an Eridian!” she sighed, looking tired and worried.

The flight to the Kaderi village of Quomdar had been long and miserable, the weather terrible. High up, the winds were cutting and unbearable, and lower, rain and sleet pelted them. They stopped frequently but soon moved on, there being no relief at rest.

They approached the village on the morning of the third day, having been unable to reach it the previous day before the light failed. When they dropped lower, and circled, they saw no sign of life. The rain had stopped, but the wind had picked up, and they were eager to land.

Shocara had only brought a dozen warriors, and they landed at the western side of the village. Dismounting, they huddled close, the quiet eerie and unsettling. They could see animals still alive in their pens, having enough grass and rain to stay alive untended, but no sound other than the wind greeted them.

“Come, split up, and check all the houses!” she ordered, wanting to do something before she lost her nerve. As they moved from one to another, their distress and amazement grew. Nothing was disturbed, the contents not strewn about, as anyone raiding would have done, searching for valuables. Cooking pots, clothing, nothing seemed missing. Yet there were no bodies, no trace of the occupants.

By the time they reached the far side, they were completely spooked and mystified.

“Look around outside!” she called, tossing down a small rag doll she had absentmindedly picked up.

It was only a few minutes later when one of the warriors called. Everyone went at a run, to see what had been found, but they stopped dead, suddenly confronting a terrible sight; The ashes of a large fire set, wet and much beat down, a large circle, that was ringed by Eridian swords, driven blade first into the ground. The hilts had been broken off, and lay beside the blades. Eridian’s would have taken the swords if nothing else. This declared the Elvin as responsible as nothing else might.

“This is likely the resting place of the men...but are the women and children well burned there also?” Shocara wondered. She walked past her men, stepping into the blackened field, and began raking the wet ash with her sword point. She did this a dozen times, moving around the entire pile, and then crossed over the middle. When she was done, she walked back out, and wiped her sword and boots on the grass.

“There are only the large bones of men in that place! The Elvin have taken the women and children! Who now wishes to dispute my understanding? We must return the Elvin women or suffer the same fate!”

“Are you sure?” one of the warriors asked.

“Of course I am. The Kaderi women well knew who came to kill Rumani, and took the Elvin captives. They will tell the Elvin, and the Elvin come for us next!”

“We should plan for that, and be prepared to meet them!” Hacarim suggested.

“And where should we find the warriors to stand against a thousand Elvin? Or ten times that number? We would have a better chance of surviving if we took them all to Alarinad, and handed them over, then begged for mercy!” Shocara laughed.

“Come, we have much to do! If the Elvin visit us while we are here, we will have nothing to return to but ashes and memories!” she sighed.

Shocara and her men went to the two closest Kaderi villages to speak with the people. None had seen any sign of the Elvin, and only in the one was there awareness that their neighbor had met some mysterious end. Shocara warned them as to their possible fate, having had men involved in the taking of the Elvin captives. Only their greed for gold had let them pass up a share of the Elvin women.

The flight back to their village was as miserable as the one earlier had been. They were well pleased to spy it, emerging from the mist, and showing no signs of destruction. That they could see their people moving about was an even greater relief to all.

Shocara swung down, tired and cold, and was quickly greeted by news which astounded her.

“Princess! Lucerto is here! He managed to escape the Elvin and flee!” Garen called. This amazed Shocara, since she could not recall any Eridian captive ever returning.

“Send him to me!” she instructed, and headed to her abode to get dry clothes on.

She was waiting when Garen returned with Lucerto.

“So, where were you held?” she asked.

“In Alarinad Princess. I thought I was doomed to die there, but managed to slip away, and steal a terranak!” he declared. Shocara sat, silent and staring, long before she spoke.

“They let you go...the Elvin are too wise to lose a captive. Why?” she demanded. Lucerto slumped, knowing he was at Shocara’s mercy.

“They allowed me to leave, if I would promise to carry their words to you. They offered to allow me to stay, as all the others have done, but...I wished to return to my family...”

“So  we have Eridians living among the Elvin?! Are they...”

“They are free and unfettered, Princess, living as humans,” he quietly suggested. “I spoke with some of them. They are much pleased with their lives, able to partake of the ease and riches as all Elvin experience. It was...very tempting!” he confessed. Shocara sat, speechless at this.

“What words might the Elvin wish to have me hear?”

“That they are tired of the war, and wish to be our friends...have wanted such all along. They would share all they have, if we would be comrades, instead of enemies!”

“And we’re to trust the Elvin?! Who told you such things?!” Shocara laughed.

“Princess Amein and Lord Rasten...he is Sayarin’s son...they both came to visit me, and spoke at length, wanting to hear of our lives and people. They seem...much different than I...than any of us believe them to be!” Lucerto sighed.

“Likely they told you what they wished you to hear, so you would be wooed by them! If they want so much to be our friends, why do they attack us?!” she demanded.

“I think mostly because we attack them! When there are periods between fighting, when we are less able to mount attacks, do the Elvin come to us, bringing war and destruction? No, they leave us alone. Only when we attack do they repay us in kind! What happened to the Kaderi?” Lucerto asked, having heard only bits and rumors.

“They destroyed an entire Elvin village, and took many women and girls. The Elvin came, and left no man alive or free...and they took all the women and children! What do you make of that?!”

Lucerto shrugged. “I saw them...the captives. All are well, and being cared for fully. The Elvin will teach them their ways and language, and keep them, wishing them to have some kindness after their loss!”

“You seem eager to sing their praises! Why should I trust you?!”

“Princess, I returned, eager to be with my family, knowing you might kill me as a traitor. I am still devoted to our people, but wish we might have a different life, free of this constant war and death! The Elvin are much different than we believe...and they seem sincere. I expected to be tortured and abused, but all whom I met treated me kindly and respected me. Perhaps they would truly make good friends...I can not judge such a thing. I know only how to be an Eridian, to tend my animals and fight with my sword. You are wise, and perhaps should consider such things as this?” Lucerto sighed.

“Very well...go on. I have no idea of these things either!” Shocara quietly suggested, and when he reached for the door handle, to go out, Shocara spoke again.

“For all our sakes, I hope you are right about the Elvin. If they are not as you say, then we are likely doomed!” she declared.

“I am certain you are correct, having seen the wonders of their sorcery first hand!” Lucerto agreed, and went out.

Shocara sat, deep in thought.

Was my dream part of a wider thing? Might there be some way to live in peace with the Elvin, and have what they have...great cities, great wealth and power...to be still free, but not impoverished and of little regard? Would the Elvin welcome us as comrades? They are mighty fighters, skilled and amazingly deadly with sword and bow. How can we endure in their shadow, so few and insignificant? We lack the land, the ability to support a large population. Is there somewhere else we might live, where plenty and security might be ours?
Shocara sat, wiping her eyes, her chin on her drawn up knees.

I want such a simple thing...that we endure, and not perish, yet each day that somehow seems less likely! Our lives are hard, and our people wear out and die young from their toil, if they don’t fall in battle! How is it we are cursed by the gods, to be here, next to beings who are immortal?! Are they mocking us, or are we foolish, and somehow ruining our own lives? Perhaps the Elvin truly are sincere. I wish there was some way I might hear their words, and judge the truth of them myself! I suppose should they capture me, I would have such a chance, at least until they killed me!
she thought, sitting in the gloom, miserable.