~~ Chapter Three ~~

~ Spy! ~

At dawn the next day when Deneati woke up, he was surprised to find an arm wrapped around him. As he looked to see who it was, the face of his golden beloved, looking a bit more tired and older than he remembered, came into focus. Her blue eyes were glazed over in sleep and her mouth was curved into an almost imperceptible smile. As he gazed with joy at her, Celestia subconsciously became aware of a change in his breathing.

When she woke up fully the first words out of her mouth were, "I am NOT going back."

A couple days later, the elves were going over battle strategy when Celestia called out, "Halt! There is something evil here. Do not let anything enter or leave the camp." As Celestia scanned the minds of the elves in the camp using her powers, she became even more aware of the presence. She figured out that it was a mind, twisted and warped beyond belief. The mind in question was certainly not an elf, but seemed more human-like, perhaps a man. Celestia tried to single it out, but soon it became clear that the man's mind was protected and somewhat concealed by a belligerent aura. The aura must be the man Palanthir, the sorcerer, Celestia thought. As Celestia and Palanthir battled over the control of the spy, a new recruit tried to creep out of camp, a pained expression on his pointed face. As he slipped out of camp, one of the elves on guard stopped him and tried to take him hostage, but the man knocked the guard unconscious and fled, running to Palanthir, his master and protector.

Palanthir smiled, gloating in his latest victory over one of the small human towns that inhabited Bellorüan along with the elves.

One of his servants came up to him, bowed and said, "The spy has returned."

"Send him in!" Palanthir's replied curtly.

"Master?" the spy inquired.

"Well?" said Palanthir. "What did you find out?"

"Nothing of their battle plans, for when they were about to discuss them a new lady called for a halt and almost discovered me." So that's whom I was battling with, thought Palanthir, amazed. "Then I crept away and came here," finished the spy triumphantly.

"Well, you were smart in leaving, but the next time, do not leave until you at least learn something!"

"Yes master," sighed the spy.

"Servant!" cried Palanthir. "Take him away and see that he is fed enough to survive for now. I will be sending someone else next time. Dismissed!"

As Palanthir was talking to the spy, Celestia was becoming more and more anxious. Some of the elves had found the unlucky guard's unconscious body and were trying to revive him. Nothing was working. The elf remained unconscious, and many were becoming worried he would not wake up again. Celestia had figured out enough information to realize that the spy had been one of the men that had joined the elves because the Lenideal had destroyed their homes. The information was not enough and Celestia knew it. After that little 'incident', Celestia inspected everyone's mind in the camp thoroughly, including the elves and the men. All the new recruits that came had to be inspected also. It was fatiguing job. Celestia learned about all the thoughts and concerns of the various minds she inspected. The only way to relieve her heavy burden was to lie down beside Deneati every night and fall into blissful slumber, but even that retreat was plagued by horrendous dreams for Celestia.

Some of the dreams were fueled by guilt, for Celestia still had not told Deneati about their two children. She knew Deneati would be consumed by guilt for not being there and he would lose his concentration during battle. So Celestia kept putting it off, and putting it off, until finally she could not stand it anymore.

"Deneati?" Celestia asked timidly. "May I talk to you? I need to tell you something."

"Sure little star, what is it?" he replied.

"Well, this will come as a shock, but we have…." Celestia was cut off by cries of alarm and panic. A group of the Lenideals was here! This was the first time they had come to attack the actual camp of the Silverwolves. The enslaved men that fought for Palanthir stood bravely, too bravely. In the face of elves with their wrath raised, the men should have been shaking with fear. Yet they were not. It was almost as if they had a secret weapon, something stronger than the elves, something bigger, meaner, more powerful. Finally, the 'secret weapon' was revealed, spirits! The souls of deceased men were now attacking the elves! Deneati had made her stay back from the main battle, but now she went forward. She cast forward with her powers, driving away the stolen souls of men with the friendlier, but just as strong, elementals. Elementals are the spirits of all things natural, and more inclined to help elves, the fair folk of nature, than the Lenideal, who were destroying the elementals' home and places of embodiment. The stolen souls wailed in anguish, dismayed that a stronger source of power was pushing them back from the veritable feast of elves in front of them. Soon they fled, flying from a battle that their evil master had told them would be an easy conquest.