Chapter 25 Rewards

Life is too long to hold a grudge and too short to forget an injustice.

Half-elven saying

While Dudley and Andrew tended the tiny fire, Bel cleaned the rabbit carcasses she and Gremmels had collected in the moon lite rocky hills running to the sea. She had split the last of her healing potion between the two and had insisted they rest before attempting the long trek back to Sentinel Hill. Both were uncommonly silent, Andrew simply staring into the fire as though trying to see a pattern in the flames. They all ate in silence, only the howls of the coyotes breaking the night air.

Andrew started suddenly, as though he had jerked awake. 'Beleta, I have a boon to ask of you.'

Bel looked up from fletching new feathers on her arrows. His formal tone caught her complete attention.

'I need to learn more about fighting. Swords, daggers, clubs. Whatever you can teach me before we reach Stormwind.'

'Stormwind?' Dudley asked.

Andrew looked at Dudley. 'I need to bring VanCleef's ring to our prince reagent. Myself.' He paused. 'I want you both there, if you will.'

Bel gave him a small smile. 'I can do this.'

Andrew stared back into the flames. 'I cannot return to my farm. Probably not even my sisters. Maybe their children in time.' He mused.

'Wa? Ya kilt the leader of the Defias! The land is yours.'

Bel pulled a blanket from her bag, she would stay warm by Gremmels, the blanket and her cloak would be needed by Dudley and Andrew in the cold nights ahead. 'He cut off the head of a serpent, but it is a powerful serpent and it's death throes will lash across this land for some time.'

Andrew nodded absently. 'Yes. It will not be safe for some time. I want..' he stopped. 'I need to learn a knight's trade, perhaps with the followers of the Light. I will return and cleanse the land for all my neighbors and family.' He paused again. 'I must make the prince regent understand. He has loyal subjects here and fertile land.'

Bel sat awake late into the night watching Andrew and Dudley. She sent her saber out several times to check the surrounding area, but she didn't think anyone would be trying to find them now. In the morning they would need to travel carefully with bands of Defias hunting them, until they reached Sentinel Hill. She pondered Andrews' words when unbidden her father's words of wisdom, coming through her uncle's voice rang in her ears. 'humans are not all that they seem at first.' Humans were surprising Bel agreed.

Bel and Gremmels followed the little party of Andrew, his two sisters, and Dudley through Stormwind. As usual, Dudley was happily chatting away, explaining his close relationship with King Bronzebeard and making obscure references to important finds he had made for the Explorers league. Andrew would absently nod, but his face was hard and his jaw set. The battle axe was slung over his back. He looked neither right nor left, marching resolutely towards the great citadel. Bel had wandered these canal streets before answering Dudley's request to join him in searching the Deadmines. A valuable treasure for his good king Bronzebeard. Bel snorted. She had only joined him because she knew she was finding excuses to not search for her mother and in making a decision about the Whispers of Solace guild. Her musings then turned to the human Captain Westfall. She frowned trying to make sense of what she had seen and felt.

The bustle of the city and the many humans streaming along the beautiful canals bordered by various shop fronts snapped her attention back to their group. The streets were filled with humans and a few dwarves. They passed small groups of young women in long fancy dresses and similar groups of young men dressed in pastel colors. All had one or two ornate blades tucked into belts, even the women. Some men wore sword belts compete with some of the most intricate sword pummels Bel had ever seen. The occasional dwarves stomping along the streets were dressed as smithies. They wore heavy leather aprons and sometimes thick goggles pushed up on their heads. Beggars would step out in their path from dark doorways or alleys. They would stretch out their hands to the girls, but when their eyes caught either the boy or Bel they would quickly fade back. Stormwind guards in complete armor and heavily armed patrolled the larger streets. More than once Bel caught the look of a scowl directed towards her. Their little party was generating interest, as more people stopped to stare at them. Bel pulled the hood of her cloak closer to cover her eyes, as her sharp hearing picked up fragments of comments about them and her saber cat.

Reaching the citadel the boy approached one of the king's guards. 'I have business with the prince regent.' The guard pointed to a room off the great entryway.

Inside sat a small thin man behind a desk with only an open appointment book. Andrew marched up to the desk and again announced, 'I need to see the prince regent.'

The man looked up and smiled. 'You will need to do better than that. Many people believe they need to speak with our prince regent.'

Andrew reached into his coat and removed the bag that Bel know held the severed ring finger of VanCleef. Opening the bag, he emptied the contents onto the desk. 'I bring him relief from the killer of his mother, our Queen.'

The thin man seemed to be made of fairly stern material, as he didn't flinch and even carefully turned the finger to look closer at the ring. He pushed up his glasses. 'It is the ring of the chief mason. How do I know this was worn by VanCleef?'

Andrew turned to look at Bel. 'The Kaldorei can verify the owner of this finger and ring.'

Bel started and her eyes locked with the thin man's.

'Hmm, a Kaldorei. What say you, daughter of Elune. Is this the finger and ring of Edwin VanCleef?'

'It is. This human killed him in fair combat and collected the prize you hold.' Bel wondered again how this myth of the honesty of Kaldorei had started. She knew hiding a truth with an untruth was seldom successful but as Vahlen often quoted, 'those who tell only the truth are very dangerous'. Silence or a partial truth were common enough among her people.

The thin man looked at her for a long few moments. 'Will you excuse me for a moment?' And without waiting for a reply, he stood and left the room.

The girls were looking at their brother with wide eyes. Annie stepped up and tried to smooth down his hair and then pulled out a cloth to clean off his bruised face. She sighed. 'I suppose brother, we are as presentable as we would ever be.'

The thin man reappeared. 'Please follow me.' And he turned sharply away.

Dudley exhaled. 'Well, there ya have it. Lets go boy. Lets meet this prince regent of yers.'

They followed the thin man up a long, wide, hall. The king's guards stood at attention, lined along the wall, at openings into other halls off the main one. Light played through the high clear windows. Huge tapestries of hunts and battles and royal parties covered the walls.

Finally at the end, heavy double doors where pulled open at a signal from the thin man. They all stepped into a large round room with a central dais. On the dais were two large chairs, ornate and glittering with gold. Large stone lions marked the compass points of the dais. Sitting in one of the throne chairs was a young boy, about as old as Andrew, thought Bel although she was no judge of the age of humans. A table with writing utensils and paper were in front of the boy. An older man stood at his side. Although he was not in armor, Bel knew by his bearing that this man was a warrior and a leader in his own right.

The thin man bowed deeply. 'My liege. The party bearing the finger and ring of Edwin VanCleef.'

Around her, Andrew, his sisters, and Dudley all bowed deeply. Bel stared at them. When she swung her gaze back to the young prince regent, her eyes caught his. He was such a young human, she thought, but his grey eyes blazed with intelligence and a wisdom beyond his years. Bel felt the blue blush rising in her ears and she dipped her head.

'Rise my friends.' The prince regent called out 'and please approach.'

They all let Andrew take the lead. 'My prince, I bring you the finger and ring of the nefarious Edwin VanCleef. The man who deprived you of your sweet mother, Queen Tiffin Wrynn, beloved by all her people. And the man who took mine own father.'

Now Bel was gaping at Andrew. The boy was surprisingly well-spoke.

Andrew placed the bag on the table. As the prince started reached for it, the man standing quietly next to him reacted with cat-like reflexes and blocked his reach. 'My prince, allow me.'

If the prince was annoyed, he gave no indication. 'Of course Highlord Bolvar Fordragon.'

He carefully opened the bag and slowly examined both the finger and the ring. Looking up he fixed a steely gaze on Andrew. 'Did you kill VanCleef?'

Andrew threw his shoulders back even more and lifted his chin. 'Yes, I killed the monster responsible for so many deaths. With the help of my companions.' And he swept his hand back indicating Bel and Dudley.

At this, a slight woman, dressed entirely in black, with black, fathomless eyes, and raven black hair glided into the chambers.

The Highlord dipped his head, 'Lady Katrana Prestor.'

Bel was suddenly assaulted with the smell of acrid smoke and the sound of scales sliding over the marble floor. She shook her head and looked directly at the small lithe human. It took her a moment to realize she was sharing the scene with Gremmels. He was becoming more and more agitated, the odor now filling both their nostrils and the ominous sound of claws clicking on the marble surface piercing their hearing.

The Lady stopped and stood flanking the young prince. Her eyes first flicked to the grizzly ring and finger, and then swept over the party in front of her. Bel caught her breath as Lady Prestor locked eyes on her. They were expressionless, black pits. Bel thought she could hear the low rumbling breath of some monster and looking through Gremmels' vision of the room, almost pulled her daggers when she thought she saw curls of smoke rising from the woman's nostrils. All of Gremmels senses were screaming 'DRAGON' in her head and yet Bel knew she was seeing a small human woman.

Keeping her eyes locked on Bel the lady spoke. 'Guards please escort the Kaldorei and her companion from the room. All hunter companions' she spoke the word with derision, 'must be stabled; none are allowed to walk free in Stormwind.'

Several guards quickly scrambled toward Bel, hands hovering over the pommels of their swords.

Andrew flashed anger and was about to protest, when the young prince held up his hand. 'I would hear the tale of the ring. I am sure one saber cat will be kept under control by it's master and the finest of the King's guards.' He looked directly at Bel.

Bel stammered. ' Yes, sir, your honor' She felt the eyes of the humans on her. She looked back down and closed her fingers in Gremmels ruff. Without even looking back up, she could feel and hear the strong agitated swish of a dragon's tail.

The prince continued in a very quiet voice. 'Andrew, has killing VanCleef brought you relief from the pain of losing your father?'

Andrew looked at him startled. 'It was necessary. He was an enemy of the crown, he terrorized your loyal subjects, he destroyed my family. I have no regrets. My sisters and I can make a new life, now.'

The prince considered this. 'I am glad you can see a future and you have our heartfelt gratitude for striking such a blow against an enemy of the crown.' The prince pulled a gold ring from his finger, 'Take this and may it help you in this new life.'

Andrew knelt again, 'My prince, I ask you to permit me train as one of your knights. That is all I wish from you.'

Bel heard Dudley gulp and whisper, 'Take the gold ya buffoon.'

The prince considered Andrew. 'Rise. We shall grant you entry into the training for the knights. A document will be drawn for you. Your companions will be paid with a gold piece, if this is acceptable?' The prince smiled at Andrew as Andrew bobbed his head, yes.

There was silence and then the thin secretary stood whispering to their group. 'Give thanks and exit now. Wait at my desk for your rewards.'

The Lady added in a low hissing voice that carried throughout the hall. 'Hunter, do not violate the decree of parading a saber through our city again. There have been some unfortunate attacks on the citizens by vicious animals. The penalty is death. Of the hunter companion, of course.'

Bel backed out, her hand on Gremmels neck. 'I understand.'

The secretary came down carrying a rolled document and a small bag that jingled with coins. He presented the paper to Andrew and opened the bag to pull out two gold coins. Dudley's eyes widened to saucers as he collected his. Bel thanked him and then handed hers to Annie. 'You will need this to start again.' As she watched the tears well up in the sisters' eyes, Bel shifted uncomfortably. 'I need to stable Gremmels and make a short stop in the Mages quarters. Shall I meet you later at the Blue Recluse, sun down? Drinks on Dudley, of course.' They all laughed, except Dudley.

Bel steeled herself. She had made her decision abruptly and knew if she thought on it longer, she would again find something else to distract her. This was as good a time as any to finally seek out her mother. She knew the house in the mage's quarters, as she had passed it several times on her wanderings in Stormwind before her adventure in the Defias mine. Brushing back her hair and pulling her single long braid over her shoulder, she strode up the short pathway to the oak door. She stared at it for a moment. What did humans do to get the attention of the people inside, she wondered. Raising a hand, she lightly touched a bell on the door. She strained her ears to listen for any noise within. All was silent except for the few humans walking along the pathways of the mage's quarters behind her. Bel was about to start tracking humans, when the door silently opened. A tall elegant woman with long greying braids, small lines creasing the skin around her eyes and lips, and piercing blue eyes stood in the entry. She smiled when she saw Bel. 'Beleta, daughter. Welcome home.'