To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice (31 page)

55

Gishari had spoken occasionally with Tierinia, reminding her to keep her informed when Amein or Rasten might be away. She had made light of her interest, laughing and bantering so as to make her intent seem less sinister than it was. She had been unable to pass on the news of Rasten’s journey to the Kaderi village in time to aid the Eridians, and was frustrated, but managed to hold her ire.

Gishari was much pleased to hear word of the Elvin plans to attack Shocara’s village, especially since it was forecast to occur two weeks in the future. Tierinia had suggested that both Amein and Rasten would be gone on this campaign.

“That would be so perfect! My friends would be able to prepare a nice surprise for them, when they return! Thank you!” the plotter suggested, smiling delightedly. Tierinia assumed that someone wished to surprise her leaders with some sort of gift, and soon forgot about it, being busy.

The Coumaderini had difficulty staying focused and acting her normal self, eager to finish her day’s tasks, and go out, to meet the merchant, who would see that this information was passed along, so that Shocara might have it in a timely fashion.

When she was finished, she changed clothing, trading her Elvin servant’s uniform for everyday Elvin garb, and headed out, taking several coins with which she might shop.

She randomly wandered, from place to place, buying a few treats occasionally, and appearing like any other elf might. When she reached Eimarien’s stall, she had to wait while he haggled with a customer, who wished to buy an expensive necklace. Gishari slipped around between the displays, and stuck her hand into a bin of candies, taking a half dozen, which she intended to enjoy while waiting. She looked up to see the merchant watching her, and waved innocently, grinning abundantly, while nodding. This improved the look on Eimarien’s face, and he continued his haggling.

When he finally finished, he came her way, dropping a handful of coins into a leather pouch, which he tucked away in his sash.

“And what brings such a lovely elf to my establishment today? I hope you found my candies to your liking?” he added.

“Of course! I have much reason to celebrate today...and so do you!” she whispered this last, after glancing around.

“Excellent! I am always eager for good news, and a reason to celebrate! Come over here, and see some new things, I believe you’ll approve of!” he insisted, gesturing for her to follow him to the back of his stall, away from the couple of others who were browsing.

When they were well away from the others, both leaned over a display, as thought they were examining items.

“What might you know?” the merchant asked.

“I am told that in two weeks, at the new moon, the Elvin plan to raid the Eridian village where Shocara stays! Apparently they hope to surprise our friends, and recover the Elvin women which the Eridians captured! Will such news aid them?”

“I’m sure they will find it helpful! I will see that such wonderful insight reaches them quickly! Here, choose something you like, as a small reward!” the merchant suggested, gesturing expansively. Gishari choose an intricate Elvin necklace, and held it against herself.

“You don’t want that...Here, try this!” Eimarien suggested, choosing one more valuable. Gishari’s mouth dropped open, seeing it.

“It is beautiful! Are you sure I should have it? You will spoil me!” she whispered.

“Of course...you are important and need to be well cared for! The Eridans will be well appreciative of your labors!” he quietly suggested. “Don’t hesitate to bring me more news, even things that seem less valuable...I will decide which might help our friends! “Would you like to have some more candies?” he asked loudly.

“Of course!” she replied. She had soon given him a coin, in exchange for a bag of treats, and said goodbye, eager to go on, wandering more, before returning to the Citadel in time to eat.

Eimarien had been pleased, and watched her go, before turning his attention to other customers.

The merchant was busy the rest of the after noon, and it was only when he closed up his shop that he was able to head off to meet Coudrien, and pass along the information. His fellow plotter seemed thrilled.

“And when will this occur?” he asked again, eager to be correct.

“On Hasrani...the beginning of the new moon. The Elvin prefer to visit under cover of darkness apparently. Perhaps our friends can use the dark for their own purposes?”

“I’m sure they can. I shall see that this gets to them as quickly as possible! Perhaps the Eridians might strike a firm blow against the accursed Elvin!”

“We can only hope! Can you imagine what might be done, should they manage to capture the Princess? That would be far better than killing her! The Elvin would likely give much to ransom her back!”

“We should wish for such! Still, in the end, we can only do what we can to aid our friends!” Coudrien declared.

It was two days before this information arrived at Shocara’s doorstep, when one of her flyers arrived bearing it.

“You are certain?!” she demanded.

“Coudrien sent this word, Princess, hoping it might be of value! Apparently the Elvin plan to avail themselves of the moon’s absence, to further their effort to inflict harm upon us! I am told he wishes you to bid them welcome somehow, instead of finding them come unannounced!” the flyer chuckled.

“I am certain I would like that! Very well, return to the village, and listen for more such delightful news!”

“Princess! I would stay, and aid you against them!” the fighter complained.

“Dear Shasarin! I appreciate your desire, but you aid me best by being vigilant, and hearing the words of those from the city. I trust your ears to detect falsehood, should they somehow speak such, to mislead us! Only with time will we be certain that they are reliable! Please? Serve me well as I ask?”

“As you wish, Princess. But I hope I don’t miss all chances to fight the Elvin!”

“If these words are less than true, you will likely be fighting them just to escape! I trust you...don’t fail me!”

“I will not!” Shasarin sighed, pleased to be well regarded by her. He went off to eat, and to return to his task.

“He brought news of worth?” Garen wondered, having walked up in mid discussion.

“Apparently the Elvin plot against us! Can you imagine such a thing?” she declared and laughed. “Come...we must prepare to welcome them when they come to visit!” she said, grinning wickedly.

Shocara had wandered through the village, considering how they might defend it against a large mass of Elvin, but soon grew frustrated. She went to the terranak pens, and mounted her waiting one, going aloft to fly and glide in a wide circle around the village, so as to better see the land below.

We are vulnerable here, should the Elvin manage to approach unseen, and land enough warriors! They will surely do so, wishing to well fall upon us, and overwhelm us. Worse, here, among our women and children, they might do even more to inflict destruction upon us! How might we get them to fight us elsewhere, where only our fighters might be in danger? Would that not aid us?
she wondered. Suddenly inspired, she decided to fly east and south, to the nearest neighboring village.

Our women and children might be moved here in a day, and be less likely to suffer. Should the Elvin fall upon an almost empty village, they might be directed to a place where we would have the advantage!
she considered this, becoming more pleased by it, the longer she considered it.

The next morning, Shocara and Hacarim, along with a half dozen of their best fighters took wing for their summer encampment, from which they launched attacks and raids on the Elvin lands. Circling it several times before they landed, she noted that the terrain seemed less hospitable to an attacker. When they landed, she spoke of this.

“I think you are right! The forest that rings this place might hold many fighters well concealed, which could engage the Elvin from behind, as they confronted those within the village itself. It is always hard to fight on two fronts, with no cover!” Hacarim laughed, liking what he saw.

“Much depends on how many come...if they bring every fighter they have, we might still be overwhelmed, and those within the village left to their doom! We must consider how we could avoid such a trap!”

“Princess, the Elvin wish to attack under cover of darkness...should we use fire, we might take that away from them...making them fight in enough light to help us, more than them,” Hacarim suggested. This made Shocara frown.

“We run the risk of them refusing to engage us! Should they decide to abandon the attack, and plan another one, we might not hear of it, until they fall upon us! I would wish to engage them while we hold the advantage!” Shocara insisted.

“I understand...we must think more on this. What are you planning to do with the Elvin captives? Leave them for the Elvin to find? That might help us, by causing them to leave some to guard them, or to lose a large number, taking them away!” Hacrarim suggested. Shocara shook her head.

“What you say is true, but should things turn against us, I would not lose the value of still having them hidden! We likely could trade them for our lives, if nothing else!” she replied.

“Paaa! I would rather die with honor, than be traded like a goat at market!” Hacarim proclaimed bitterly. Shocara stepped close, and put her hands on his shoulders.

“I understand your feelings, but we have not the warriors to throw away on such a thing! A dead Eridian no longer fights, and can never again defend our people! We have lost too many all these years, and risk perishing utterly! Look at what the Elvin inflicted on the Kaderi...eighty men in one small village, who will father no more children, and tend no more crops or animals! Those among them well able to fight are lost also to us for all the years! We must not throw away lives, nor lose people with skill at arms! Too many young boys fight of necessity, and perish before they gain the ability to defend themselves! Always we have suffered this, being beaten down to nothing, and retreating northward to lick our wounds, and rebuild out strength! I wish for more success, or we should give up hope of ever winning the respect of the Elvin!” she sighed.

“Perhaps you are correct, but my heart is torn! How should we live, with no honor?!” he wondered.

“It is hard for dead men win renown, or to gain a victory! We must first endure, if we are to accomplish anything! I wish to do such, no matter how hard and evil such a task might seem. I need your skill, your dedication...all of you, not just willing, but alive!” she replied simply.

Why does such a thing seem so hard
?” she thought, turning away, to go to her terranak.

56

Rasten was much heartened by the improving weather as he worked to prepare for the attack against the Eridians. The only thing that bothered him, were a series of strange visions, which had come to him. They had shown him burning buildings, chaos and battling warriors, but had seemed indistinct and confusing. By the fourth occurrence of this, he had been annoyed and concerned enough that he went to visit the Sage Hareiastin, to see if he might offer some understanding.

They had sat in the Sage’s large contemplation room, amid the greenery and bathed in light from the many windows, while Rasten recounted his visions in as much detail as he could. The old elf listened, eyes closed, almost appearing asleep, but he was anything but.

“Can you guess why your visions seem less clear than others have been?” the Sage wondered thoughtfully, when Rasten fell silent.

“Perhaps, because...you once spoke of the
indistinctness of possibilities.
Is this that thing?

“Ahhhh, now you are being wise! Yes, of course, this is such. When your vision shows you things past, that have occurred, there is never any...vagueness about them! They exist, in only one form, and you see them sharp and distinct. Events unfolding in the now are also less ambiguous than future ones. Future events are subject to the decisions of multiple beings, who each exercise their will on the world around them, through the choices they make. Any number of such decisions might alter the unfolding of events! The future is indistinct, and greatly fluid, and thus, your visions of it are less clear! Rather than a record of a single event, they are a shifting montage of possibilities! Understanding that, seeing ways to guide the flow of events is what made your father the master he was! Only with much practice, comparing the possibilities in your visions, to the unfolding events, and seeing how your decisions alter them, will you learn to well influence the future!”

“I assume the worst thing a person might do, is to see dire things, and give into fear, wishing to avoid them?”

“The very worst! That way spirals down into chaos and failure! Often, the only correct choice is to meet an evil possibility head on, and not flinch away from it. A wise and strong person has no fear of death, but only fears succumbing to that which rules the darkness! Often, evil choices are overcome simple because you refuse to surrender to them. Always hold true to those things of honor and decency, Lord Rasten, and you will find your way!”

Rasten had been much reassured by this chat, and mentioned it briefly to Amein.

“His wisdom is deep and boundless!” she sighed, “ and many are the Elves who have grown tall by availing themselves of his teaching! I am utterly grateful for having sat at his knees, and heard his words...” she sighed. “What disturbed you enough to seek him out this time?” she asked.

Rasten reluctantly spoke, describing his visions.

“You are wise to be concerned and cautious! Several of them display evil possibilities. Yet all battles contain such potential evil. Use them to guide you, to make sure you’ve considered every possibility! Have you considered that somehow the Eridians might be expecting you?” she asked, looking thoughtful. Rasten chuckled at this.

“I don’t recall sending them an announcement!” he declared, grinning. Seeing Amein’s stony gaze soon changed his mood. “Perhaps we should, just to be safe?”

“Much better! Just because no one has spied for them, you should always assume that eventually someone will! Always consider all possibilities, especially when you have a vision to suggest you should!” she scolded him. “You have barely begun to touch the possibilities inherent in your gifts. Father worked years upon years to master his, before becoming sure of them. I warned you many times that your work would be long and difficult!”

“Do I have to admit it?” he teased.

“Don’t tell me you’d discount my advice because I’m female!”

“I’d never admit such a thing!” he replied, and soon found himself on his back, with Amein perched on top of him.

“Not admitting it is not adequate...you aren’t allowed to even think such a foolish thing!” she complained, precise and sharp.

“Yes, Princess!” he said, more snotty than he would have preferred. It took much effort to sooth her upset, both of them ending up naked on the floor, and well having each other. They were sweaty and breathing hard, as Amein lay on top of Rasten, content to be held.

“Why do I suspect your fits are an excuse to be had thoroughly?!”

“Lord Rasten! Are you suggesting I’d stoop to such depths just to be pleasured more?” she demanded, unable to maintain a stern look of disdain.

“Of course I am! Try to deny it...my truthsense will well catch you!”

“Then I would be wise to stay silent! Come, we have more work to do! We’ve entertained the snoopy servants enough for the moment!” she sighed, knowing that several had peeked, curious to see what they had been doing, naked and on a plush rug. 

As the preparations continued, Rasten had to decide how many warriors to commit to the attack. Shocara’s village was average in size, likely holding a hundred adult males, of which perhaps half might be considered warriors. Should others be present, coming from neighboring villages to plan a raid or attack, that number could potentially be ten times greater. Discovering this before an attack was launched against them was problematic, especially if the weather was dubious; cloud cover might easily conceal many Eridians, until they were on the ground. While Rasten might bring a thousand warriors to bear, the reality was such that there was little room to land and fight such a large force. To set down most of his men far removed, and to pass through the forest to reach the village, while making no sound, was difficult and would leave these ones far from the terranaks, should they need to quickly retreat or chase the Eridians.

“What? You’re finding being in charge is a bit harder than you imagined?” Kalida teased one evening at dinner. “It’s not all standing around and looking sexy, is it?!”

“I never imagined that it was!” Rasten grumbled, through gritted teeth. “It wouldn’t be so wicked, if lives weren’t at stake!”

“Ahhhh, but they are! Imagine preparing an invasion, where you have to move and commit a million warriors, with all their stuff!”  Amein suggested, looking thoughtful, and eyeing Rasten smugly.

“Have you done such a thing?!” he demanded.

“No...I think the largest I’ve done had a few hundred thousand involved. Father did several campaigns that were that huge! Of course, his first one was not so big!” she added, and laughed. “I’d suggest you relax, and learn to crawl, before worrying about running some race!”

“Thank you, mother!” Rasten sighed, as everyone else laughed.

In spite of his worry, his plans moved ahead easily, a seemingly endless number of Elvin warriors eager to volunteer for the effort.

“I imagine they wish to garner credit for rescuing our females!” Rasten sighed one night before bed, as one of the attendants pulled his boots off. Amein’s snort of outrage made him curious, she being across the room, and having her back turned. “You have differing thoughts?” he asked. Amein handed her clothes to her helper, and stepped close, bare. She sat precisely on his lap, and eyed him, arms crossed. The attendants tip-toed from the room, with a tiny burst of giggles.

“You can be the most clueless person at times! I find that so cute and adorable!” she sighed, trying to contain her mirth. Rasten threatened to tickle her.

“Don’t you dare! It may have escaped your notice or thought, but every elf on Am-Coteiru wishes to stand beside Sayarin’s son, and be part of your first efforts! None might wish to pass up such a momentous opportunity!”

“They probably want to have something to laugh at, when I get hammered! I just hope I don’t get half of them killed!” he complained.

“Rasten! They don’t expect you to falter, and neither do I! It’s good that you’re humble, but don’t lose sight of your ability!” she complained. “You especially never want to speak openly of your fears...I don’t care if you’re so terrified that you pee yourself, act like you aren’t! Those who follow you will rise up to do the impossible, when they see a leader confidently point the way! Remember what got me made Princess? I was so desperate and afraid, that I did wet myself, but I went forward as though I had not only no fear, but little sense...and the Elvin, seeing me so fearless, followed, overcoming their own fears solely because they thought I had mastered my own. In a sense, I did, by doing, instead of surrendering to my terror!” she looked embarrassed a moment, before gazing into his eyes.

“I was more willing to die, than to have everyone find out how wet my bottom was! That’s stupid, but it helped me master my reluctance! Sayarin spoke many times, of the need to do that which you most fear. He defeated whole armies, by standing up and seeming insanely determined. The enemy, seeing his raging confidence, broke and ran, and were easy pickings.” Amein insisted. “The bravest of warriors is surfeited with fears, but somehow overcomes them. The Eridians are so dangerous, because they would rather die than seem cowardly or afraid! Never forget that! They are quite dangerous, especially when cornered. An Eridian who has no hope of surviving is a vicious creature, who will do anything to take you along, to the house of the dead, if they have to go!” she said, and hugged him tightly.

Later, Rasten woke, having been plagued by a wicked dream. It had echoed much of his earlier visions, being chaotic and filled with images of running and screaming warriors, both Eidian and Elvin. What had disturbed him more was an image of himself, being somehow brought down, to lay on the ground, by an Eridian female with a broken sword, who had stood over him, screaming commands, as her warriors pushed against the Elvin. He lay in the darkness long, considering this, before finally drifting off again.

The next day, he had more visions, complex and varied, conveying much of what the previous ones had. When ever he had a moment of quiet, he contemplated on them, trying to grasp their meaning. That they held much conflicting imagery seemed to make sorting them into a coherent message impossible. In some, the Elvin seemed to be retreating, and in others, it was the Eridians being chased. He was relieved to have no more of the one wherein he had been brought low, or so he thought, until it returned to him while wide awake.

He had been sitting in his study, trying to relax, knowing they were to leave in the morning, when the image of his room disappeared, and he seemed to be in a rough Eridian village, the scene lit by fires burning, and chaos reigning all around his vantage point. He held his breath, afraid to move, as the vision moved, finally seeing himself engaged with a woman, who seemed well able to handle his efforts with the sword. He looked in danger of being skewered before he used a vicious spinning kick to take her down. On her knees, she still fought viciously, nearly taking his legs as she lunged and slashed. He managed a hard blow, with his greater strength, and broke her blade nearly at the hilt.

Rasten saw himself turn, to avoid another Eridian’s blade, dispatching this one quickly, but when he turned back he was hit in the head by the female’s sword hilt, and he dropped as though dead.

The vision ended, disappearing as quickly as it had come, leaving Rasten sitting, paralyzed.

I need to remember this, and not let her gain the advantage!
he thought.

“You’re quiet?!” Amein  said, stepping into the room.

“More visions...and they don’t seem all that promising,” he sighed, as he shivered.