"What do you mean she's in a trance?" Wil Ohmsford exclaimed, glaring angrily at Lian. "What did you do to her you imbecile!" he shouted. Wil had always trusted Lian Ruus, but for some reason this was not sitting well with him. His gut was telling him one thing, but the words that fell from Lian's mouth told him another.
Lian let out a hardy laugh. "I did nothing to her, Wil Ohmsford. Brin attempted to use the wishsong, and we both know that that is a danger all its own for someone as frail as her."
"My daughter is neither weak nor frail."
"Why? Because she saved the Ellcrys? Dear Wil, one can save something and still be entirely weak on the inside for such a powerful creation." Lian's voice was low, almost lethal.
Wil's eyebrows knit together. "I know my daughter, she is not weak."
Lian could tell by the look on the old man's face he wasn't about to give in that easily. If Lian had his way he would just dispose of Wil Ohmsford altogether. But one couldn't get rid of an Ohmsford without someone noticing. And their was Jair to think of as well. He would surely notice, it was his father, and what a mess that would be.
"My Brin knows how to handle her wishsong, Lian. She hasn't had a problem with it for the longest time. To my knowledge, she hasn't even used it since the Ellcrys."
"Then there is very little you know about your daughter, Wil."
Wil scoffed at that. His large frame towered against Lian. Though he was nearly 70, he wasn't a weakling, and he wished at that moment he could give Lian a piece of his mind. Something was not right with the elf, no matter what the blasted guy said. Wil was sure of it. His eyes, the flicker of a gentler, more solid anger gave him away. For a while now Wil had suspected that things weren't a perfect world between Brin and Lian. This just proved it. Lian's façade could not fool Wil. He had seen so much and done so much and heard so much and lived a lot longer than this elf.
A flicker of uncertainty shadowed in Lian's eyes. The bloody bastard was on to him. How, he wasn't sure. He knew the Ohmsfords were famous for their wit and quick thinking, they had grown in history and become one of the most prevalent forces to deal with in the Four Lands. People always went to them when they needed something fixed or dealt with. Even Allanon, a powerful Druid, couldn't save the Ellcrys on his own. Couldn't retrieve atonement in history without the Ohmsfords.
"My daughter has perfect control over her wishsong." Wil said, his eyes drilling daringly into Lian's. "She has had since she was but a child. I trust her to the fullest extent. She knew how to handle it before I barely knew about it."
Lian let out a huff and stormed from the room.
"I am not done you with you Lian Ruus!" Wil nearly screamed. "My daughter is in some sort of trance because of you not the wishsong. I know it. So don't you go and try to fool me you ignorant elf."
Lian span around, causing Wil to crash into him in his eager attempt to follow. Lian slightly pushed him back, gaze rigid with utter insanity. Body raged, and Lian's hands grasped hold of Wil's shoulders, tightening, not releasing, and his voice cried demons.
"You're daughter, dear sir, is in a trance because of the wishsong. What transpired before such is none of your business, as it does not concern you or anyone else. Now I suggest you leave me be. I have much to do concerning what has happened, such as finding a way to bring her from this trance."
Wil hesitated, mind racing. Something in Lian's eyes wasn't right, something was completely off balance, something almost… heinous lurked behind those green depths. His stance, the air around him, the way his presence felt in the hall, the way his mouth was pinched.. it was… dark. His grip was not kind, was not gentle, it was… determined, angry, murderous.
Lian's green eyes flickered a slight purple as Wil watched him look over his head and past him.
"Father?" a male voice cautiously said from behind Wil. "Is everything okay?"
Lian's grip loosened on Wil's shoulders, then fell back to his own side.
Wil turned slightly, forcing a slight and hopefully buyable smile. "Jair, welcome home. Your kids are eager to see you I'm sure. All is well here, Lian and I are just having a talk."
"Yes, Jair, a talk. Concerning your sister." Lian smoothly countered, folding his arms behind his back.
"Yes, so why don't you go say hello to your wife and kids and you can come back in a while and we can talk." Wil finished.
"But uhmm, I have something for you, father." his voice was cautious, his eyes locking momentarily with Lian, stern and curious.
"Later, my boy. Later."
Wil felt quite sick turning his son away, but this did not concern him, at least not at the moment. What was transpiring between him and Lian was between them alone, and he wouldn't risk getting Jair involved if it was not necessary.
At the sound of the front door clicking shut silently, Lian spoke.
"Stay out of what you know you should, Wil Ohmsford."
Wil's left eyebrow rose, tension forming in his voice. "Is that a threat, Lian?"
Lian smirked. "No, dear Wil. It is not a threat. Nor is it a promise. Just merely stating that what concerns me and Brin…" his brows narrowed, and there was a moment of silence so thick you it choked the air surrounding the two men "..what is between me and Brin… it does not concern you." Lian turned, and walked out the back door, the wood closing lightly against the door pane.
Wil stood there, stunned. He couldn't quite forget the look on Lian's face when he saw Jair. It was… hatred. Which made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Lian had always loved Jair as a brother, never even fought with him. Occasionally there would be a fall out for a day or so, but nothing that could not be resolved. And that glance… it was.. brutal.
His whole demeanor, his face, the way he acted, was not the Lian that Wil knew. It was almost as if the Dark Lord had taken form in his heart, planted a seed, and it was growing, and it was multiplying, and eventually it would overshadow what goodness was left of Lian.
Turning himself, figuring it best not to follow this time, Wil headed back into his daughter's room and closed the door quietly behind him. He could almost taste the anger, the evilness in this room.
"Oh Brin… what has happened?"
The words fell on silent, invisible ears.
