Chapter Forty-eight

The Center of High Society


I closed my eyes and stepped forward. "I don't know how to share this. It's not something I've told many people, but I..." I looked at the floor and stopped breathing.

"Well, speak up," the paladin said. That didn't make it any easier.

I took a deep breath. "From our travels, and things that have happened, and who I was traveling with to begin with—I was originally brought to Emildan by Darion Rodan—along our journeys, both Darion and I received separate visions from...Bahamut.

"And in Darion's vision, he saw what I am assuming is a drow next to the Tree of Ages. In my vision I also saw the Tree of Ages, though not under attack as Darion seemed to. And Bahamut told me...that I and my friends were the key to saving my people."

"Your people?" Brotoras asked. He sounded like it was absurd that I'd have any.

"Yes, both high and wood elf."

"Hmm..." The elf peaked his hands over his mouth and gave me a searching stare.

"I do not fully understand my lineage... My parents never really told me where I came from, but my father is a Nosgartha, and was of the guard of the Tree of Ages—"

"Indeed. I know of your family. Or at least I know the name." This elf was continually making me more nervous, but more determined as well.

"My mother, and I do not know her parentage, but I know that she is a Lussanen."

"Indeed. I thought I recognized the family resemblance. Go on." I was tired of being analyzed like an object, but for maybe the first time in my life, I fully claimed who I was, as well as my heritage, as little as I knew about it.

"And I obviously take more after her side of the family." I laughed. "Um, that is what I know of my parentage. But it is my determination to go to Fenraas and see what is to be done to help save the Tree. I believe that Loltha is somehow involved in attacking it. Near Greenwall, we rescued some people who had been abducted by some of the cult of Loltha, including Brox'l Tor, who evidently is law enforcement in Greenwall, but he is a powerful mage that nearly killed me while we were in some sanctuary of Loltha, rescuing people who had been kidnapped."

I saw both the druid, the Hearthmaster is what she'd called herself, and Seeker Assum taking vigorous notes at this information. Brotoras was still staring me down, and the other gentlemen were paying close attention. I could tell Allura was trying to maintain a regal appearance, but was completely enthralled in what I was saying.

I continued, "He told me that Loltha would soon—I'm trying to remember—soon break free of her prison, and my people would be the first to go."

Brotoras seemed to roll his eyes while still staring at me relentlessly. "Stories of Loltha have long been told by those who follow her, of sacrifices and other things being made. And over the years there have been many who have tried— We will send more. Seeker Assum, let's send someone to— you said it was Greenwall, yes?"

I answered affirmatively. The paladin continued, "We will send someone, well, a few, to Greenwall to investigate—quietly, Seeker—to see what is going on there. But these have continued, Loltha is a demigod who has long since wanted to regain power. This is not anything new—"

"It's not the first encounter we had with servants of Loltha." I wasn't going to be put down by this snooty high elf.

Brotoras blinked in surprise. "Okay."

"We began our journey heading towards Raishan and ended up in Midlan before, helping people who had been sickened by spiders."

"We have heard of this, yes." I was really starting to dislike this elf. He didn't interrupt Melima like he was me.

"As we were staying at an inn, half of our party was kidnapped by servants of Loltha and taken about a mile outside the city."

"Which direction?" Why was it always Brotoras asking the questions?

"To the north."

"Seeker? Are you getting all this as well?"

"Ah, yes, yes. I'm getting all this, thank you," The gnome replied, furiously scribbling notes.

I hadn't thought they'd want to look into that too. "We were taken to a cave that direction."

The paladin leaned forward. "So what do you believe the connection between the Tree and Loltha is? If there is any."

"I know that the drow are typically the followers of Loltha, and since it was a drow that Darion saw in the vision I believe that somehow they are related. It keeps coming up, it seems too coincidental to not take notice."

"Interesting. And so what do you, Vox Imperium, intend to do? Allura has informed us that you are on some sort of mission, that you have asked for her aid in travel. What is it you, as a group, intend to do to help in this time of need?"

Melima took a step forward. "We plan to talk with my father, who has some knowledge of the drow, and go from there."

The paladin sat up straight again, evidently taken aback by her interjection. "Well, uh, if indeed you wish to help, I would implore you to continue on your journey. Make your way to Fenraas, and make your way to the High Elven capital, and Miss Moonfeather, speak with your father, speak with the members there and learn what you can. And if possible, send word so that we can help in any way we can here.

"If there is anything else you are in need of please let us know as a council, or let Allura know and we will try to help in any way we can. It is hard, we have limited resources with the war, and everything we have going on. But this is a very high priority for the elves, of both high elf and wood elf.

"And when you return, I would like a moment or two to speak with both of you," he motioned to Melima and I, "to learn a bit more of your travels and what has been going on. But for now, continue on your journey here. We will discuss it further as a council, and if anything more is required, we will ask Lady Allura to relay any information or any questions through her.

"Thank you for coming in. Thank you for informing us of this information, and may peace follow you on your journey as you move forward. Thank you."

The Master of Defense sat back in his chair, and Allura sat up straighter again to address us. "Thank you. Thank you so much for bringing this information. I will see you again this evening at my home, and we will discuss further then."

We were escorted out of the chamber, and I could hear conversation erupt as the doors were closing behind us. Tofor Brotoas could contain himself no longer. "Who was she? Where did she come from? How is she even possible?" His voice was filled with disgust. "There is no way that this 'child' is the one spoken of. The Lussanens will never..."

I strained to hear the rest of what he was saying, but the doors to the council chamber shut, blocking out any sound from within. How much more of their conversation would be about me?

We made our way down the front steps, past the guards. It suddenly struck me what Brotoras had said, he could see the Lussanen family resemblance. I looked like the royal family of the wood elves. I thought of Sephra and Melima, sharing the same royal resemblance. If I needed to, it sounded like it wouldn't be too hard to prove my lineage as well. And what did he mean by "the one spoken of"?

I followed as Melima led us into a magic shop. Most of it looked like clothing, though there were some weapons around. There wasn't much that interested me, so I stuck around by the door.

Keothi was trying to find something that would better help him defend against attacks of the mind. Melima wanted something to make her stronger. Melima chose some ridiculous gauntlets, they seemed to be made of stone, then haggled the price with the storekeeper.

She showed the storekeeper a vial of ink, and Jörgen tried to swipe it from her so she couldn't trade it. "Are you going to buy it from me?"

Naidaroe rushed into the shop and moved away from the door quickly. I didn't know what she had been doing, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to. Maybe she'd just seen someone who would have recognized her.

Melima also haggled for a ring Keothi wanted, and some healing potions. I sighed, the last time I'd seen one used it didn't end up doing much good, Sindus died anyway.

I noticed some leather armor on the wall. That was interesting to me, why would that be in a magic shop? The shopkeeper approached me, having finished business with Melima. "Ah, yes. This armor is enchanted with additional protection. That set is seven hundred gold."

I staggered at the price. That was almost as much as I'd ever had in my life. It was half as much as the gauntlets Melima bought, but I wasn't ready to spend that much on some armor, as nice as it would be. So much of what we'd been facing most recently disregarded armor anyway.

"Um, I still have to get a dress, but I might be back for it."

"Yes, yes. Do what you need to. It will probably still be here, it has been for a while. Not much of the adventuring stuff sells, but occasionally it will."

Jörgen requested a scroll and asked for the bill to go to Allura. No one else wanted anything, and we finally left the shop.

I told Melima and Ari'yasa that I was ready to get a dress. I'd promised that I would get one once we knew for sure that we would be flying to Fenraas, and now we did. We went to a tailor to find me one.

Ari'yasa was bubbling over with joy. "What color do you think you want? Maybe a purple? I think you'd look good in purple."

My stomach churned at the thought of such an unusual color. "I was thinking something more like green or brown, maybe a tan. I guess I'd be okay with a blue as well." It was the color commonly associated with Bahamut, and since he'd asked me to be his champion...

"You probably don't want a purple," Melima said. "That's the color of the Ransbar clan, so unless you are trying to present yourself as a match..."

I could feel my face turning red. Marriage was not even remotely on my mind. The likelihood of me being accepted as a match was extremely remote. If nothing else, because of my age, let alone my mixed heritage. "I really liked what Hanna Wasaran was wearing. If we can find something similar to that, I think I'd be okay with it."

We found a deep green dress that was simple enough for my taste, but still elegant. The tailor asked if there was anything I'd like changed about it, any designs or alterations. "If you could add some simple leaf motifs, I would like that."

She nodded. "I can add that pretty easily. Come back for it tomorrow and it will be ready for you to pick up."

I paid for the dress, only fifteen gold, and we left the shop. No one else wanted to do any shopping in the cloudtop district, so we set back towards Allura's tower.