Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Hellboy characters, settings, etc. or any of Dylan Thomas's work – see part of poem 'Do not go gentle into that good night' quoted at end of chapter (Google for full text). The original characters and plot of this story are mine though. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made from this work.
Chapter 20
Although always careful in her appearance, Elfraine was more meticulous than usual when she dressed for work the next day. She'd need every advantage possible in her upcoming meeting with Director Manning. Though he'd proved fairly amenable so far, she knew these particular negotiations were going to be challenging to say the least. Manning was unlikely to just hand over the rune stone binding the Elven prince simply because she'd decided it was the price for her services over and above those set out in the archives contract. He'd likely need far more persuading than that.
With one last appraising look in the mirror, Elfraine decided she was as well turned out as she could be. The ruby-coloured shift dress she'd chosen suited her deep brown hair and pale skin perfectly, and a light-weight lacy black jacket, simple antique-gold jewellery and low-heeled black courts completed the outfit. She threw on her coat, grabbed her bag, and went downstairs to meet the taxi she'd ordered to take her to work that morning.
As the taxi drove along the city streets, she focused on her upcoming meeting with the Director. She'd texted him to set it up when she returned home the night before and he'd replied that morning, confirming her suggested time of nine o'clock. Acting on a flash of inspiration, she got the taxi to make a brief stop at a coffee cart on the outskirts of the park below the BPRD. She'd called in there a couple of times on the way to work, and knew they made wonderful coffee. Once back in the taxi, she looked down at the two drinks in her hands; she was as ready as she'd ever be.
... ...
As she was ushered into his office by his secretary, Elfraine was brought up short though by the sight of the Director tucking into a large piece of what appeared to be chocolate-iced banana cake, with great enthusiasm. He'd just taken a bite, and it took him a few moments to chew and swallow his mouthful.
"Forgive me, Miss Somerled," he said when he was able to speak again. "Late breakfast," he added by way of explanation as he wiped his hands and mouth on a paper serviette.
Elfraine raised her brow at that. "Unhealthy breakfast, don't you mean," she remarked dryly as she walked over to his desk and handed him his coffee. "Perhaps you'd like to wash it down with this sir."
"Oh... thanks," he responded in surprise as he took the cup. "That's very thoughtful of you. Please, take a seat," he invited before he took a mouthful. "Hmmm, that's great coffee! Yeah, I know cake for breakfast is no good for you but the cafe just baked one fresh this morning and I couldn't resist – it's my favourite," he said as he fondly eyed the remainder of the cake with a look of pure and simple enjoyment.
That look caught Elfraine unawares and she suffered a nasty jolt to her conscience as she realised this was likely to be the last time Director Manning ever enjoyed chocolate-iced banana cake again. She had no doubt once she'd completed her trade with Nuada later in the day, one of the first things he'd do was put a quick, or maybe not so quick end to the Director. She ruthlessly ignored the wave of pity that suddenly washed over her at the thought. Whatever happened to Manning afterwards was not her concern, she reminded herself though she wished now she hadn't had this one small glimpse of him as something other than the dull bureaucrat he otherwise appeared to be. The Director was speaking again and Elfraine turned her attention to his words.
"Anyway," Manning was saying. "What did you want to discuss?" There was a hint of suspicion in his voice as he glanced down at the coffee Elfraine had bought him. He'd already noticed she was looking particularly lovely today, and he had the sudden feeling he was being softened up for something. Her next words confirmed that feeling.
"I've decided on my price Director... for my 'consulting' duties," she replied. She took a sip of her own coffee and waited for his response.
"And just what do you want, Miss Somerled?" asked Manning with confident assurance. She'd find he played hardball in negotiations like this, and wouldn't be swayed by either a well-turned out woman or free coffee... even if it was very good coffee, he thought as he leaned back in his chair and raised the plastic cup to his lips.
"I want the rune stone you're using to bind Prince Nuada," she stated baldly.
Manning choked on his coffee and reflexively spat out the mouthful he'd just taken. It splattered all over his shirt front and tie, and he looked round frantically for something to wipe it up with.
Elfraine was at his side in an instant, dabbing solicitously at his chest with the paper serviette from his cake plate. "That was a bit careless, Director," she chided gently. "On both our parts," she admitted as she gave him a rueful smile. "I think I've saved the tie but I'm afraid you'll have to change your shirt sir. You do have a spare one here, don't you?" she asked, all concern.
"Yes, yes," spluttered Manning as he waved her off in annoyance.
"Well, that's a relief," she remarked as she took her seat once again. "My conscience can rest easy." That last was said as much to tell her conscience to be quiet as to make an apology of sorts to the Director.
"Yes, well," he harrumphed. "I'll change my shirt as soon as this meeting is over," he said with a frown.
Elfraine gave him a moment to recover before she continued. "Well, what say you to my price, Director? Will you meet it?" she asked.
"No, Miss Somerled, I most certainly won't!" replied Manning emphatically as he eyed her with outright disfavour now. "Just how did you find out about the rune stone anyway, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Not at all, Director," replied Elfraine smoothly. "The prince himself told me about it," she explained.
"Oh, he did, did he?" returned Manning, with a frown.
"Why? Was he not supposed to?" she asked with interest.
"No, no. That's not it," replied Manning hastily. "I'm just surprised he told anyone about it."
"Yes, he did seem rather embarrassed by it all. I think you might have hurt his pride," Elfraine remarked.
"Ha!" exclaimed Manning. "He's certainly full of that!"
"Yes, he is, isn't he," said Elfraine agreeably. There was a moment's pause. "So... the rune stone, Director," she started.
Manning cut her off sharply. "There's no point in continuing this conversation Miss Somerled, unless you have something else in mind. I'm not paying you with the rune stone! That's entirely out of the question."
A look of annoyance settled briefly on Elfraine's features. "Are you sure, Director?" she asked sharply. "I can't see that it would be much of a loss to you. In fact, I rather thought you'd be glad to be rid of the thing."
"Well, you thought wrong Miss Somerled. I have no intention of giving up the rune stone," replied Manning with an air of finality.
"I see," said Elfraine. There was a pause and then she added, with reluctant resignation, "You've put me on the back foot somewhat sir. I was quite convinced you'd readily agree to my price."
"You know what they say Miss Somerled," Manning informed her smugly. "Never count your chickens."
Elfraine dipped her head in acknowledgement of the old truism. "You have me there sir. I'm guilty of that very thing."
Manning gave her a condescending smile. "Don't feel bad, Miss Somerled. It's a trap people often fall into." He leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his coffee, feeling much better now he had the upper hand and was in control again.
Elfraine sighed. "Ah well, in the face of such unwavering determination I'll suppose I'll just have to decide on another price then," she said in a dispirited tone as she finished off the last of her own coffee and stood to leave. "Hopefully it'll be one we can both agree on," she added with another rueful smile.
Manning pushed back his chair and politely stood as she crossed over to the door. "The standard rate of pay for field agents is still on the table if you have trouble thinking of anything else," he reminded her hopefully.
As she grasped the door handle, Elfraine turned back to him and said, with a small smile, "I'll bear that in mind, Director." She paused for a moment, and then addressed him in a soft, thoughtful voice as her expression suddenly became serious. "I must say, you're a very brave man, Tom Manning." Then she turned back to the door and opened it.
Tom Manning preened for all of two seconds before the full import of Elfraine's words struck him. "What do you mean?" he asked sharply, as a sudden rush of dread grabbed hold of his gut and twisted hard. Her comment played on his very real fear he'd made a bad move in using the rune stone to force the elf's oath and allegiance. He'd had a nasty suspicion almost since the start, that the rune stone was only a tenuous restraint on the prince at best, and Elfraine's words now only seemed to confirm that suspicion.
"It was simply an observation Director. I'm sure I don't need to spell out to you the risks of possessing the rune stone," she assured him as she stopped and turned to face him once again. "You have my greatest respect sir. If I wasn't immortal and I could be killed, I wouldn't have that stone for the world." She gave him another brief smile and turned back to the open door.
"Um, why is that?" asked Manning urgently. "Did the prince say something else to you when he told you about it?" The Director was beyond scared now; he wasn't immortal and he most certainly could be killed.
Elfraine closed the door quietly. She allowed a small, hard smile to briefly touch her lips before she turned back to him. "Well, I hesitate to mention it because it sounds so... awful," she replied with a slight frown.
"Go on," he urged. "I'd rather hear it."
"There... there was some talk of there not... of there not being much left of you to bury... once he discovers how to break the power of the rune stone," Elfraine informed him with great diffidence. She accompanied her words with a small shudder of distaste.
Director Manning blanched alarmingly, and was momentarily struck speechless.
Elfraine waited patiently for him to recover his equilibrium before adding, "I believe he's very close to making that discovery... at least that's what I gathered when he told me about the stone. Something was said about it not taking him very long."
Manning went even whiter. "That's most... concerning," he muttered. He glanced down at his desk for a long, thoughtful moment before looking back up at Elfraine sharply. "Assuming I agreed to your price, what would stop the prince from killing me anyway?" he asked suspiciously.
Up until now her responses had been entirely truthful, except that the Director needn't know it was she who'd made those comments rather than Nuada. However it was time to embellish things a little.
"He said something along the lines of... let me see, whoever held the rune stone would feel the weight of his wrath once he'd broken its infernal power... or was it accursed power? Hmmm... never mind. I'm sure you get the gist," she replied with a delicate shrug of her shoulders. That sounded like the sort of thing the prince might say, Elfraine thought.
"I didn't get the impression he held any personal animosity towards you," she continued, as imagination swiftly descended into outright dishonesty. "All his anger seems to be directed at whoever holds the rune stone and of course, that person may or may not be you, Director."
Manning was silent for several moments as he chewed over her words but he wasn't ready to capitulate just yet. "Why do you want the rune stone, Miss Somerled?" he asked with a frown.
Damn, thought Elfraine. He would ask that. She had an answer prepared but it didn't seem like a very plausible one. However it was all she had and it would have to do.
"The question of my fee has vexed me sorely these last two days, Director. I have everything I want and I don't especially need any more money, though I'll admit it always comes in handy. It occurred to me last night there was some small thing I could gain from this though. The prince has been most discourteous to me from the moment we met. I want the stone so I can compel some manners from him," Elfraine replied, hoping against hope Manning would swallow her patently feeble answer. "At least he won't be able to kill me for using it against him," she added persuasively.
Luck was with Elfraine but not in the way she'd hoped. They were suddenly interrupted by a commotion in the outer office, and the same Elven prince they'd just been discussing pushed his way into the room past the secretary who hadn't even bothered trying to explain the Director already had someone with him.
"Manning, you will give me answers if I have to cut them out of you!" snarled Nuada as he made straight for the Director.
Manning leapt to his feet in alarm.
Nuada stopped short as he saw Elfraine. "You are finished here," he bit out tersely as he hauled her to her feet and dragged her towards the door. "And if you don't go quietly, I'll pick you up and throw you out!" he added menacingly as Elfraine struggled to escape his grasp. His hard golden eyes glittered with unnerving anticipation, and she quickly stopped trying to fight against him.
However Nuada's distraction with her gave Manning enough time to grab the rune stone out of his jacket pocket, and draw his gun from its holster. "Um, let Miss Somerled go... Your Highness," he said hesitantly as he held them out in front of him.
Nuada whipped round to skewer Manning with a cold look of deadly fury however he had no choice but to release Elfraine.
The Director took a nervous gulp and continued on. "Ah, Miss Somerled and I haven't finished our meeting yet. If... um, if you want to make an appointment with my... my secretary..." he trailed off, unable to continue in the face of the prince's unwavering and utterly terrifying stare. Instead, he held out the stone just a little further, and gestured to the door with his gun.
With a curse, Nuada spun around and pushed past Elfraine as he left the room.
Manning almost collapsed with relief.
"Well, that just proves what I said about his manners," remarked Elfraine evenly as she straightened her jacket and smoothed down her sleeves. "Do you have an answer for me, Director?" she asked once more. Secretly, she was absolutely delighted; she couldn't have done better if she'd organised the prince's intrusion herself.
"Uh, yes, Miss Somerled," replied Manning with alacrity. "I'll pay you with the rune stone." It suddenly seemed like a very good idea to be rid of the thing just as quickly as possible.
As he looked down at the stone he had a moment of doubt though; he hoped like hell he was actually choosing the lesser of two evils. But the prince's fierce visage flashed before his eyes and he ignored his feeling of apprehension. "There's also a spell with it," he said as he retrieved a small, folded piece of parchment from his jacket pocket. "You'll need to recite the spell as you hold him in the thrall of the stone. That just means you hold the stone out in front of him and it should keep him quiet long enough for you to say the spell. Apparently the stone and spell are made so they work only on the prince."
"Only on him!" repeated Elfraine with surprise as she walked over and took them from him.
"Yes," replied Manning shortly. "And you can only use them to make him give his allegiance to you, and forswear his vengeance... oh, and to hold him at bay like I did just now. To make the bonds unbreakable you give a promise in return. I promised his sister would be safe at the BPRD."
"That's... interesting," remarked Elfraine in a thoughtful tone of voice.
"I don't think you'll be able to use the rune stone and the spell to make him mind his manners," Manning informed her, almost spitefully.
"That's my problem Director," she remarked as she placed the stone and the spell in her bag. "Well sir, it's been a pleasure doing business."
Manning made no reply to that; he merely shook his head before he sat back down and stared unenthusiastically at what was left of his cake; he suddenly found he no longer had the appetite for it.
He made a forlorn figure sitting there in his coffee-stained shirt, and Elfraine was struck anew with guilt as she realised she'd ruined his enjoyment of what was likely to be his last ever piece of chocolate-iced banana cake, although he obviously had no idea it was going to be his last. She'd probably have to try and do something about that, she thought with a sigh.
"Director," she said gently. He looked up at her and she gestured to his shirt. "You might want to change that after I've gone," she reminded him.
"What? Oh... yes," he replied looking down at his shirt before returning to stare glumly at the remains of the cake.
Elfraine left the room, shutting the door quietly on her way out. She was now determined that Tom Manning's hangdog face was not going to flash before her eyes in her final moments on earth; they were likely to be crowded enough moments as it was.
... ... ...
After being stymied in his attempt to get some answers from Manning, Nuada headed for the training room to work off some of his frustration and rage. However he was waylaid by Hellboy before he got there.
"Hey, prince, today's the day we get to interrogate that rouge agent the way we want to," announced the demon with grim cheer. "You coming? Or are you gonna leave all the fun to me!" he smirked.
Nuada suddenly gave Anung un Rama his full attention as he was reminded of the promise Manning had made the day before. The previous day's session using standard BPRD interrogation techniques had been unsuccessful yet again, and it was now time to employ some more effective methods. He gave the demon a slow, cold, mirthless smile as he replied, "I hardly think so. Today's session will require a certain amount of finesse and imagination... both qualities you clearly lack!"
"Ha! This'll get the job done just fine!" replied Hellboy, holding up his right hand and flexing his fingers. "And a lot quicker too than your finesse and imagination."
"You'll find you are wrong... as ever!" Nuada told him shortly as they headed for the interrogation room.
Two hours later they had all the information they were ever going to get from the rouge agent. Hellboy's right fist had nearly killed the man before he could even say a word, and Nuada then had to walk a very fine line between finishing him off and applying just the right amount of pain to induce him to talk.
In the end even Hellboy had to admit it was finesse and imagination that got the job done, and he was able to report back to Manning that the traitors in the BPRD had been working for the owner of Blackstone Castle, an ancient estate somewhere in the north of England. They finally had a name of sorts and the first solid lead in almost six months. With any luck they'd be able to find out who or what was behind the upsurge in paranormal activity that had started then, and put a stop to the strange goings on. And once they'd dealt with the light-devouring shadow beasts and sent the Hounds of Odin back to Asgard, they could get on with their own lives at long last.
... ... ...
Nuada looked through the open window of his rooms as the late afternoon sun gilded the tops of the trees dotting the grounds of the BPRD. Dark grey clouds massing ominously on the horizon told of a storm coming. At least the day hadn't been completely wasted, he thought grimly. They finally had something of substance to follow, and he was keen to set out for England as soon as possible but no doubt Director Manning would decide when the time was right for that.
Thinking of the Director reminded him of his attempt to find out more from Manning that morning about the rune stone and what had happened when he and Nuala were resurrected in Ireland. It had been an abysmal failure and he still knew nothing on those scores. He was next to useless to his people while he remained bound by the rune stone, and his encounters with both his old friend - or rather his former friend - and the Elven family last night only served as sharp and painful reminders of the urgent need to break free from it. Although it had been hard to hear, the Elven youth was right; his people had been adrift for the last four years, leaderless and in disarray. No one strong voice had emerged from the chaos to fill the void left by his father's, and his own and Nuala's deaths. But he'd been given another chance, and he intended to at least put that right now. His people would have a leader as soon as he was free of this cursed place, and they would not fade... not while there was still breath in his body.
And as for Ælfweard, Nuada couldn't fault him on his attitude; he deserved every ounce of his old friend's anger and contempt. They'd fought side-by-side in countless battles against human foes, and the knowledge that his old comrade now thought he'd turned traitor to his own kind and pledged his allegiance to the proud and hollow enemy ate into him like a canker. But he recognised that it was entirely his own fault. He should have sought out such allies as Ælfweard when he'd first returned here. He had to admit to himself he'd stupidly let an insidious combination of pride and shame over both failing his people with the Golden Army and being bound by Manning dissuade him from that course, and as a result those few of his old comrades who were still willing to fight against the human foe were no longer sure whether they could trust him or not. That discovery, made during earlier visits to the Troll Market, had come as a bitter blow to him. It would be difficult, to say the least, to convince them of the true state of affairs now, some four months later. He hadn't expected it would take so long to break the power of Manning's rune stone, and he was still not even anywhere close to doing so yet.
A light tapping on the door to his suite interrupted his thoughts, and Nuada looked around in surprise; he didn't get visitors. Not being able to think of anyone in the entire place whom he'd be willing to talk to, he ignored the knock but it came again a few moments later and more insistently this time. With a growl of frustration he crossed over to the door and opened it to find Elfraine standing there, and he suddenly remembered what she'd said the night before about conducting some sort of business. He knew what she wanted but he had no idea what she thought she could offer in return. She was looking particularly pleased with herself however, and his eyes narrowed as he wondered what she'd been up to. He hoped it wasn't anything that was going to annoy him; there wasn't likely to be much he could do if it was.
"Forgive me for interrupting Sir," Elfraine said. She waited for his response but politeness seemed to escape him and he merely stared at her with those inscrutable golden eyes of his. "May I come in please?" she asked, with a hint of exasperation in her tone. "If you recall, we have some business to discuss."
Nuada hesitated briefly before he stood aside and gestured for her to enter. He looked at her suspiciously as she walked past him into the middle of the room and then turned to face him. She seemed to be waiting for something and he prompted her curtly, "Well?"
"May I take a seat?" she asked with a sigh. He was obviously going to be difficult.
Nuada inclined his head slightly and gestured to a chair by a low table.
Elfraine sat down and took a moment to arrange herself before saying briskly, "I'll cut to the chase."
"Please do," he said coldly.
"Very well," she said as she reached into her bag and pulled out something.
Nuada couldn't see what it was; she held it in her closed fist.
"You know what I want," she stated without preamble. "What say you to trading the kaleidoscope for this?" she asked triumphantly as she opened her fist to reveal Manning's rune stone sitting in the palm of her hand.
Nuada started with surprise and was momentarily lost for words. She did indeed have something he'd give almost anything to gain. He looked from the stone to Elfraine and then back again. "How did you come by that?" he asked in suspicious astonishment as he raised his eyes to her face once more. A nasty sneer twisted his lips as he answered his own question in the next instant. He slowly looked her up and down, noting how she'd dressed with particular care that day, and said contemptuously, "I understand now why Manning was unwilling to have his meeting with you interrupted this morning. I take it you let him..."
"If you say another word, I'll slap you!" Elfraine cut in tersely, feeling quite insulted. "I have thankfully never been forced to play that particular card for anything. And what's more, Thomas Manning would most certainly not be my choice of partner with which to break almost four hundred years of celibacy!" She took a deep breath as she attempted to regain control of her temper. "To answer your question, in this instance legitimate bargaining, persuasive reasoning... and, I'll admit, a certain amount of liberty with the truth carried the day," she informed him indignantly.
Nuada merely raised his brow skeptically.
Elfraine rolled her eyes and said, with exasperation, "Believe what you will then Sir!" She was as much annoyed with herself as with him; his unflattering assumption about how she'd obtained the rune stone shouldn't have stung as it did. For the better part of the last four hundred years she hadn't given a damn about the world's opinion of her so it was annoying now, not to mention troubling, to find she was actually concerned about his estimation of her in this matter.
She ruthlessly pushed aside her uncharacteristic disquiet and asked shortly, "Now, are you willing to trade?"
Nuada hesitated, distrust and uncertainty written clear on his face and in his eyes; he didn't believe for a moment it would be as straight forward as that, and he suspected a trick of some sort.
"I fail to see why you equivocate Sir," said Elfraine impatiently. "It should be an easy enough decision."
"Perhaps a little too easy," he said cynically.
Elfraine sighed. She hadn't expected to have to convince him to agree to the deal. "In the natural order of things, and assuming he hadn't been so foolish as to earn your undying hatred, how much longer do you think Director Manning might live? Another twenty or thirty years perhaps?"
"Make your point quickly," ordered Nuada impatiently.
"Even if you didn't work out how to break the power of the rune stone - and from that little scene in Manning's office this morning I'd say you weren't anywhere close to doing so – you would've only been tied to his leash for another maybe thirty years at most, not even the blink of an eye in an elf's lifespan. If you don't make up your mind to my offer you'll spend the rest of eternity tied to mine, assuming you don't get yourself killed... again," she advised him curtly.
Nuada scowled fiercely. "You can be absolutely certain you'll bitterly regret it if you attempt to use the rune stone against me," he snarled viciously at her.
"I'll bitterly regret it if I don't do everything I can to get that kaleidoscope," Elfraine informed him, clearly unimpressed by his threat. "In any case, I don't understand your hesitation. We each of us have something the other wants; it should be a straightforward transaction."
There was a long silence as Nuada grappled with what she'd just said. Finally he spoke. "You know the value of the rune stone to me," he said tersely. "I have no idea of the value of the kaleidoscope to you. Why do you want it?"
"Oh, I see," said Elfraine as comprehension dawned. He not unnaturally wanted some idea of just what it was he was trading. She bit her lip as she wondered how much to tell him. The basic truth couldn't do any harm; besides, once he had the rune stone – and his freedom – she felt quite certain he'd be too busy with his own affairs to even think about interfering in hers.
"It's a star map, and I need it on a journey I'll be making shortly," she told him.
"What is the purpose of this journey?" Nuada asked suspiciously.
"Nothing that will affect anyone or anything else other than myself," replied Elfraine shortly. "You have my word on that," she added quietly as he gave her a look of disbelief. "I made a terrible mistake before I became immortal. The whole purpose of my journey is to do something about it and try to make amends if I can," she explained sombrely.
"What could you have possibly done..." Nuada started to ask.
"No more questions please!" interrupted Elfraine. "I've said as much as I'm prepared to on that subject. I would have thought you'd have your own concerns to attend to. It seems rather odd you're so interested in mine. Now, do we have a deal or not?" she asked sharply.
"Very well," agreed Nuada grudgingly after a moment's pause. He knew there was far more to her story than she'd said but there really was no other answer he could give; he was about to gain his freedom and more importantly, his ability to keep on fighting for his people, and if she wanted to keep her secrets then so be it. He retrieved the kaleidoscope from a drawer in a desk to one side of the room, and started towards Elfraine with it.
"Not so fast Sir," she said, stopping him in his tracks. "There's one other matter to settle before we can proceed. I've saved your sister's life at least twice now, and I'm willing to let you square her debt to me in return for relinquishing your plans to put paid to Director Manning's existence," she informed him.
"What?" exclaimed Nuada harshly, unable to believe what she was asking for now. "You expect me to spare Manning's life?"
"I do," replied Elfraine in a measured tone.
"No!" snarled Nuada. "He is going to die a very slow and painful death, make no mistake. I will not give up my revenge against him!"
"Then you'll find we have no deal," stated Elfraine in a hard voice. She'd suspected this would be a sticking point with him; he hadn't struck her as the type to easily let go of a grievance.
"You've just told me how much the kaleidoscope means to you. I don't think you'll give up the chance to obtain it simply to save Manning's life!" said Nuada derisively.
"Well, unfortunately for both of us that's exactly what I'm prepared to do," returned Elfraine. "I've discovered, to my very great dismay, that my conscience has some life in it yet. Unless you agree to the additional terms, there is no deal."
Nuada pinned her with a fierce, angry glare as he tried to determine whether or not she was bluffing. But Elfraine remained steadfast under his gaze and refused to cower or look away, and he realised he was well and truly backed into a corner. It seemed Manning's life was to be spared.
"Very well then," he bit out with bad grace. "I agree. You have no further claim against my sister now, and I will not kill Manning." The words tasted bitter in his mouth but ultimately, obtaining the rune stone was more important than taking the Director's life.
"Thank you, Your Highness," said Elfraine softly and sincerely. She realised it cost him a great deal to agree to the last condition and she was most grateful he had; she was heartily sick of bargaining now and just wanted it to be all over and done with.
Nuada merely gave her another fierce scowl.
"Oh, don't look so cross Sir," she exclaimed with exasperation as she took note of his expression. "You've only promised to spare Manning his life. That's not to say you can't torment him to your heart's content," she added succinctly.
There was a moment of startled silence on Nuada's part and then a grim smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Manning might have been better off if you'd never bartered for his life," he remarked sardonically.
"I daresay you'll cause him to come to that conclusion," conceded Elfraine. "I think we're now ready to finalise matters," she said as she stood up and pulled something else out of her bag. "You'll need this too," she advised him as she held out a piece of folded paper along with the rune stone. "It's the spell that goes with the stone. According to Manning, both were cast to work on you specifically. The rune stone can only be used to force your allegiance to whoever possesses it, compel you to forswear your vengeance, and hold you at bay. The holder then gives you a promise in return and the bonds are rendered unbreakable."
Nuada frowned at that information. "Did Manning say anything else?" he asked sharply.
"Yes ," replied Elfraine. "He told me his promise was that your sister would be safe at the BPRD... which sheds a little light on the recent attempts on her life, don't you think."
"It does," agreed Nuada as they completed the trade. He'd be visiting Manning again shortly, he thought to himself, and this time he would have some answers out of the Director, starting with who he'd gotten the rune stone from.
"Well, that's almost everything settled at long last," remarked Elfraine in a measured tone as she tucked the kaleidoscope into her bag. "There's just one other thing," she said as she glanced up at him.
"You are determined to test my patience madam," remarked Nuada as he fixed her with a hard look. "What else could there possibly be to discuss?"
"Something I hope you'll be happy to agree to," she replied with a small smile. "As I've said, I'll be leaving here soon, and what's more I won't be back this way again. I wonder if you'd look out for the dragons once I'm gone. They can't come with me, not this time."
Nuada raised his brow in surprise at her request.
Elfraine rushed on. "They don't take much to look after. You just need to check on them every now and again. The lease on my home is paid up for another year. I'm sure that will give you enough time to find somewhere else for them, and see them properly settled. Will you do it?" she asked with an anxious look.
"Very well, I will," he agreed, without hesitation. "I'll seek assistance from Gràinne, the elf-witch, with the care of them. But I do it for the dragons, not for you," he added quickly.
"Of course," said Elfraine with a wry smile. "Well, that truly is everything taken care of now," she remarked pensively. "I take it you'll be on your way tonight. No doubt you'll be damned glad to see the back of this place."
"Yes," replied Nuada grudgingly. He didn't want to engage in small talk and suddenly wanted her gone as quickly as possible. "As you pointed out, I have my own affairs to see to."
"So this is goodbye then, Your Highness," said Elfraine soberly. "We won't meet again. I'll be leaving in a few days myself. I wish you the best of luck with everything... not with your plans for destroying the human race," she hastened to add. "I think that's nigh on impossible, even for you. But I certainly wish you luck in finding a way through for your people."
She held out her hand to Nuada but he didn't take it; he was surprised by the generous wish she'd made for him and his people. Not knowing what else to say, he fell back on an old, familiar response and said coldly, "I refuse to shake hands with a human."
She rolled her eyes and quickly dropped her hand back down to her side. It was probably not a good time to remind him he'd actually kissed it only two days ago, and done a lot more besides just the day before. "Suit yourself," she murmured.
Nuada stood aside for her and Elfraine went to leave but she stopped suddenly as she remembered something. "Oh, I almost forgot," she said with a small frown as she hunted around in her bag. She found what she was looking for and pulled out a thin rectangular package, about the size of a book and wrapped in blue and gold paper. She looked at it and hesitated for a moment before holding it out to Nuada with a slightly uncomfortable expression on her face. "It's merely a small gift," she explained somewhat self-consciously. "Just something I hope you'll find some... I don't know... some value in, I suppose. Anyway, it's for you, if you want it... and it's given freely, without any conditions attached," she added with a hint of self-deprecation.
Nuada was at a loss for words; he found it hard to comprehend her gesture, particularly given his rudeness to her just now. He simply stood there unmoving for a long moment, staring at the package in her hand with a hard, puzzled look on his face.
As the moment stretched out uncomfortably, Elfraine wondered whether it would take anything away from the act of giving if she threw it at him. Deciding it probably would, she dropped her hand and put the package on the small table next to her, saying wryly, "Well, it is a gift, and if you wish to jump up and down on it and rip it into a thousand pieces then that's your prerogative Sir." She gave him a small, final, almost wistful smile then left the room, quietly closing the door after her.
As Nuada watched her go, a frown settled on his face. He'd finally obtained Manning's rune stone - and with it his freedom - and he was now rid of the troubling thorn in his side that was Elfraine Somerled; he should have been in a better frame of mind. Instead, he found it an unsettling moment. Alongside his undeniable satisfaction at possessing the rune stone, there was his annoyance at having to give up his plans to avenge himself on Manning and, more disturbingly, a faint, empty feeling almost like... loss.
He didn't like the direction his thoughts were taking and in an attempt to shake off his strange mood, he swung his gaze back to the package on the table. After a moment he walked over to it and hesitantly picked it up. Turning it over, he cautiously removed the blue and gold wrapping, and to his surprise - though almost anything would have been a surprise – he found inside a beautifully framed and hand-written copy of a poem entitled 'Do not go gentle into that good night'. Elfraine had written the poet's name in her elegant script after the title. Nuada had never heard of him; indeed, he didn't have time for human poets. But in the hope it might distract him from his inexplicably disturbing mood he sat down in a chair by the window and started to read.
And by the time he'd finished the final verse, Nuada felt as if his heart had stopped and he could no longer breathe. The evening air crept in through the open window as the black curtain of night fell on the fading light of the day, and he sat there in the cold darkness of his room for a long time afterwards, silent and still.
.
.
References:
'Do not go gentle into that good night' by Dylan Thomas, 1951.