novelxo Chapter Chapter Twenty Two
The days stretched to weeks and soon a year passed without incident as the two lords of their people continued to spend time together, learning from each other. Growing together. Tanis was often away to see to the government of his lands. Athinina was often away to see to her people’s needs and to prepare for the coming conflicts that were sure to happen. Clairine traveled with her mistress and tended to her needs as she traveled. The servant acting more the lady then the lady on many of the occasions the two young people were together.
Clairine combed Athinina’s hair and leaned to her ear, “Mistress, why do you spend so much time with the young lord? He is brash and young. Tell me my lady, what do you see in him?”
“He makes me feel as a lady should, Clairine!” said Athinina. “He makes me feel as if there is nothing else in the world but the two of us when we are together. He moves with the grace of the ocean and the power of a waterfall. He is gentle yet strong. Powerful yet vulnerable. Does this make him wrong for me? Just tell me if I am losing myself to gain nothing my dearest friend.”
Clairine looked at her queen and the trace of a smile crossed her lips, “My queen and my friend. He is the reason your heart beats is he not? It is the tradition of the Tyris that the women ask the men for their hand. If you feel that he is the one that will inspire your future battles and your future control, then propose to him now! He is young. He is impetuous. But he is the one for which you wish to live your life. If you do not ask him soon though, I am thinking I will.”
The queen and her handmaid laughed until they cried and then laughed again. The world was as it should be for them at that moment and life was good. The two women rolled around on the bed and floor laughing and giggling through the night. All thoughts of the young Lord left their heads as the two laughed and talked deep into the night. Neither had enjoyed a night such as this since they were youths and the companionship served the two of them well.
While the queen of the Tyris and her maid talked and laughed a much different conversation was going on far from the palace of the young lord. The serpentine man walked slowly into the room and walked to the hooded man in the tower. “Master, it has been prepared as was instructed. We wait our orders to move before the next stage begins.”
“Beast. Tell the others that the time is not right. When I am ready you will all be informed. Have your men ready to fight as soon as we march. It comes close to the time of reckoning and we must be ready. Our enemies can not be allowed to survive.” Said the hooded man. “Soon, beast, Soon.”
Still further in the dark lands another conversation was being held. The winged beast looked down at the Dark wizard and smiled. “We are ready master?” asked the beast.
“We are ready animal. Gather your forces and move to the east. Bring me Young Thalin’s head.” Whispered the wizard.
In another place to the east, Toirin Talis sat up in his bed and looked down at his slumbering wife. The sweat beaded up upon his brow as he looked down at his wife and smiled. It was a sad smile as he leaned down and kissed her sleeping eyes gently. Rapidly he leapt from the bed and moved to the men who guarded his door outside. “Move quickly and call up the forces! Get the commanders out of their beds and bring them to me. We march by the dawn!”
The king of the elves moved rapidly down the hallway to find his armor and prepare himself. War was returning this day to the world and Tanis had to be warned. Battle would be on his doorstep rapidly and he was probably unaware that it was coming. The elf king ran for the stables as soon as his armor was fixed to his body. He could waste no time getting to his son.
The king made it to his stable and came to a sudden stop. The eerie silence surrounding the building gave the king pause. There was something not right here. The king moved slowly into the stable looking to the rafters and stalls. The silence became oppressive as he moved deeper into the building. The silence was broken momentarily as two young troopers in the king’s guard ran to open the doors to his horse’s private paddock. The only sound heard was the creak of the hinges as the doors opened. The young soldiers looked with pride upon the king as he moved to enter, his senses still reeling. There was something wrong here. The troopers moved closer to the paddock when the world erupted before the gathered bodyguard of the king.
The king was thrown to the walls as the paddock flew apart before him. Gigantic demons poured from the remains of the paddock and moved toward the prone form of the king. The guards that had entered the paddock lay dead at the feet of the great beasts, their bodies looking as if the bones had been removed and the rest left to rot. The armor they wore had not even slowed the animals. The demons had torn them apart without even a hesitation.
The prone king reached for his sword. If he could draw the weapon he may be able to fend off the beasts long enough for help to arrive and drive them off. The king reached his hands and knees when he realized his sword was missing. A quick glance around showed that the blade had been thrown into the side of the building opposite where he had landed. The force of the explosion had also removed part of his armor. Defenseless and weaponless the king struggled to his feet calling out to his soldiers waiting for him outside the stables.
The beasts taunted and teased the king as he struggled to reach the doors. The horned creatures moved rapidly to keep the king separated from the exit. They herded the elder elf left then right. Never allowing him to move forward toward the safety of the night and his troops, nor allowing him to retreat to the safety of the stalls. Desperation set in as the king moved again to the left and the right. Fear kept the king pressed into the small corral the enemy was closing around him.
Images began to swim in the mind of the elf king. Images of his family and peoples being torn apart by the beasts as he fought to save himself. Images of Tanis being killed trying to save his life. Images of his dear wife being torn asunder because they wished information from him. He saw all that he had built being destroyed as he continued to fight for his existence. The meaning had finally become clear. The elf king had finally reached the blade that had wedged itself into the wall. Pulling and straining he began working the blade from the wall. The largest of the demons moved forward and swatted the elf and sword sending both flying to the floor, raising large amounts of laughter from his companions. The king crawled slowly to the blade lying in the dirt, reaching slowly for it so not to raise the alarm of the gathering demons.
A look of serenity came upon the face of the king as he finally realized what he had to do. The demons were not trying to finish this. They waited for something or someone. He could not allow himself to become the pawn for this other greater power. The king moved over the sword and got himself to his hand and knees looking down at the blade. He would at least send some of these animals back to their master in pieces. Snatching the blade from the dust he leapt at smallest of the creatures cutting the horn and part of its chest from the left side of its body. Again he swung severing the wounded demon’s head from its body. He turned in time to see the closest demon ram his blade into his chest instead of his back. The king staggered back looking at the blade protruding from his chest. Spurred on by the blood that now poured from their fallen colleague and that which flowed from the elf king the beasts rushed in toward the elf. They disregarded the whips and screams of the great demon that led them, charging in to finish the old elf. Again and again the king struck killing another of the beasts before he finally succumbed to the merciless attacks of the demons. As the elf fell, the great demon roared in anger, killing the closest of his minions in his anger.
“The old one was supposed to remain alive. The Master wished him. Now what do we tell Master?” asked the demon to the others.
“How about the truth.” Came the reply from the far end of the stables. The great demon turned and looked to the source of the sound. A cloaked and hooded figure moved toward the gathered demons looking at the corpse of the once proud elf king. The figure bent to the body and looked at the damage to it. “I believe I told you wanted it alive, is this not true?”
“Yes Master.” Whispered the demon.
“Is this alive, my pet?” asked the cloaked figure.
“No Master.” Whispered the demon.
“And why is it not alive, slave?” inquired the hooded form.
“I do not know my Master.” Replied the demon as he moved to lie at the feet of the cloaked figure.
“Should I punish you all? After all you have failed me and destroyed a very carefully laid plan.” Said the figure.
“The slave does not know my Lord. The slave begs for understanding being weak and lacking the great knowledge of the Master. Forgive your slaves my master for we do good in removing the other elves. We have done the other things you ask and do them good right master?” said the now groveling demon.
“Be gone from my sight. This may work to our advantage in any event. Be seen as you leave. I want them to see you flee. It will cause a great call for revenge from one that is unready to exact such a overwhelming task. I think this may be the very thing that could rid me of several enemies. Go on you idiots. Be gone just remember, flee slowly.” Said the figure as it turned and moved toward the door to the stable. As the being turned its cloak came open and revealed a small portion of the being beneath. The small bit of leather told the demons a great deal. As they fled the demons had a great smile upon their face. Much may yet come from this error thought the demon. Much may yet still come of this.