TemplarFF: Hoping that this is indeed one of MANY Lords of Magic fan
fictions you've read elsewhere (as I see no more on FF.net, sadly), thank
you very much! And yes yes, bring on the readers. The best compliment is
telling your friends =).
This posting is a tad unedited and perhaps a bit.. I dunno.. disjointed? I worry there may be too much dialogue in the latter half, but you be the judge.
Chapter 4
A Bold Request and Dark Rumors
The aroma of incense and dust was overpowering, and the grinding of mortars and shuffling of parchment could be heard all around. Daelin felt very calm and at peace, and even the pain in her arm had faded completely. But the feeling of waking up in some strange place was becoming all too-familiar. She opened her eyes to a marble ceiling.
"I'm glad you're awake. You're at the city temple."
It was Llandon, the warrior, who had answered her unvoiced question. He stood at her side, rapt and at attention like a soldier. Carefully, she sat up. No nausea or dizziness accompanied her movement anymore, and she could clearly see her surroundings.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked him.
"A few hours. It is nearing sunset." He looked down at her. "I tried to contact your family to let them know what happened, but I was unable to find them."
"My family is gone." She did not elaborate. "But I should be getting back to work now." Swinging her legs over the side, Daelin hopped off the table. Not the best move. The sudden rush of blood sent a haze over her vision, though she didn't quite stumble. Closing her eyes, she snatched her hand away before Llandon could reach out to steady her. "I'm fine."
He didn't look very convinced. Duty kicked in. "Please allow me to escort you back to your Guild, at the very least."
Daelin shook her head. Stepping forward, she opened her eyes and tested her balance. Then she took another step, and another, until she was headed at a casual pace towards the door. Besides the head rush, she felt completely normal.
"I need to report to the Empress. You may accompany me to the Stronghold if you wish, but I'm well now."
He smiled down at her politely. "To the Stronghold, then."
* * * * *
The light in the courtyard had begun to fade as the sun began its descent into the west. The golden halo over the roofs, trees, and gilded furnishings of the Stronghold had dimmed, and blue moonlight illuminated the whitewashed walls in an eerie glow. Great marble figures towered above the walkway like sentry men, likenesses of gods and heroes who gazed at each other with eyeless stares.
Unceremoniously, Daelin made her way through the great hall into the council's courtyard. It didn't take her long to figure out she was interrupting something.
Facing the semicircle of Eldren council members was a Vyanthan Thief, clothed in the same pale blue as the moonlight on the sea. She was kneeling, though she kept her neck and back stiff as if in defiance. The atmosphere was considerably tense.
One of the council members, a captain of the Eldren Barracks, spoke in distressed tones.
"We cannot condone your actions against the Archon people by fulfilling this request. The Archons are our allies and have been for some time. We cannot allow ourselves to get caught in the middle."
The voice of the Amazon was melodic, yet powerful. "The Archons push at our borders as we rush to assemble the necessary troops, and the Elves sit and ponder! We demand the warrior Llandon, son of Aranmor, to train our soldiers and hold our lines!"
Daelin glanced over her shoulder at the warrior who escorted her here. Was he some kind of hero she'd never heard of before? The gentle, patient voice of the Empress cut her thinking short.
"We place ourselves in danger by giving him up. If we make ourselves an enemy to the Archons, they may attack us from across the ocean. Rumors spread of stirrings in the swamps of Dekay. We will need our commander and heir if the Dark Elves should rise again."
"The Archons cannot cross the ocean while we stand before them," said the Amazon hastily. "And the Dark Ones are as unmoving as ever! Aid us, and the Vyantha will protect your borders."
The visage of the Empress was serene but troubled, as a still pond ripples from falling stones. She looked upon the woman with utmost sympathy. "I am sorry."
The air around the Amazon seemed to heat with unexpressed resentment, but her eyes looked upon the council icily. She did not stop to dip her head in respect as she stood and left the Stronghold.
Daelin was not left much time to ponder this course of events. Instead, the Empress addressed her.
"You have been cursed, Daelin Shadowsong," stated the queen simply. She was the religious and magickal figurehead of the Eldren, and her ability to sense a dark enchantment was no surprise to those around her. "Please don't confirm the rumors we have been hearing as of late."
Chills crept up Daelin's spine, for the very memory of the encounter made her heart pound. "I was able to inquire at the village without event. The Amazons have constructed a tower and barracks, and are sending troops - more in number than in skill - to the Archon border. I learned also that Lord Tempest has waged open war with the Archons at the strait, and are pushing into their lands at a quickening pace. Needless to say, I would not trust the words of the Thief who just left us."
The eyes of the council were upon her, more eager to hear of the source of her curse. Daelin took a deep breath and continued.
"I had returned to the Tel'Shan wood when I was attacked by an Assassin. Cormeer the Soul Stealer," if there was any sort of noise in the courtyard now, it had silenced. She could almost feel them imperceptibly shrink away from her and her wound. "his dagger cut my arm, and I fled. I don't recall all that occurred between then and now. I suppose the dagger was cursed."
It was at this time that Llandon chose to speak up.
"I found her, my queen, and three Dark Elves. I brought her to a healer to treat her injuries, and then to the city temple. My queen, the Dark Ones were well within the border. I do not know how they could have passed me."
"If they came from the south," replied the Empress evenly, "then there is no reason you should have encountered them at the northern border. Though the question remains as to how they were able to cross our own territory unchecked by anyone between here and the southern border."
Another council member suggested, "Perhaps the Assassin led them under cover."
"It matters not how they came to be here," said the Empress. "But why. A decade of peace has left our borders lax and open to trespassers. I want the sentry to be doubled, and spies sent to the south to keep wary of Thieves." The members murmured in acknowledgement. "Daelin Shadowsong, I will call upon you in a few days. Until then, rest and be among friends. I shall have a sentry man escort you."
"You needn't trouble yourself, nor your men. I am more than well enough to walk the short path to the Guild." Daelin passed a look at Llandon. Some kind of official, was he? He didn't seem old enough to have landed a position on the council. It was of no consequence and mattered little to her, still she felt thankful for his help. Admitting it was another matter entirely. She nodded her head quickly to him before leaving.
"My lord."
"Lady. Are you sure you require no escort?" There was a slight tinge of desperation in his tone, as if he were seeking an excuse to leave. The voice of the Empress interrupted any reply Daelin might have given.
"Remain, my lord Llandon, and talk with me after council has broken. You are relieved of your duty on the northern border."
Daelin watched the defeated expression cross the warrior's face, but it was quickly masked with a solemn nod and bow. "My queen."
Had she gotten him in trouble, for not having guarded the region carefully enough? Not prepared to deal with the guilt and sympathy which accompanied that thought, she crept silently from the courtyard and departed to the Thieves Guild.
This posting is a tad unedited and perhaps a bit.. I dunno.. disjointed? I worry there may be too much dialogue in the latter half, but you be the judge.
Chapter 4
A Bold Request and Dark Rumors
The aroma of incense and dust was overpowering, and the grinding of mortars and shuffling of parchment could be heard all around. Daelin felt very calm and at peace, and even the pain in her arm had faded completely. But the feeling of waking up in some strange place was becoming all too-familiar. She opened her eyes to a marble ceiling.
"I'm glad you're awake. You're at the city temple."
It was Llandon, the warrior, who had answered her unvoiced question. He stood at her side, rapt and at attention like a soldier. Carefully, she sat up. No nausea or dizziness accompanied her movement anymore, and she could clearly see her surroundings.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked him.
"A few hours. It is nearing sunset." He looked down at her. "I tried to contact your family to let them know what happened, but I was unable to find them."
"My family is gone." She did not elaborate. "But I should be getting back to work now." Swinging her legs over the side, Daelin hopped off the table. Not the best move. The sudden rush of blood sent a haze over her vision, though she didn't quite stumble. Closing her eyes, she snatched her hand away before Llandon could reach out to steady her. "I'm fine."
He didn't look very convinced. Duty kicked in. "Please allow me to escort you back to your Guild, at the very least."
Daelin shook her head. Stepping forward, she opened her eyes and tested her balance. Then she took another step, and another, until she was headed at a casual pace towards the door. Besides the head rush, she felt completely normal.
"I need to report to the Empress. You may accompany me to the Stronghold if you wish, but I'm well now."
He smiled down at her politely. "To the Stronghold, then."
* * * * *
The light in the courtyard had begun to fade as the sun began its descent into the west. The golden halo over the roofs, trees, and gilded furnishings of the Stronghold had dimmed, and blue moonlight illuminated the whitewashed walls in an eerie glow. Great marble figures towered above the walkway like sentry men, likenesses of gods and heroes who gazed at each other with eyeless stares.
Unceremoniously, Daelin made her way through the great hall into the council's courtyard. It didn't take her long to figure out she was interrupting something.
Facing the semicircle of Eldren council members was a Vyanthan Thief, clothed in the same pale blue as the moonlight on the sea. She was kneeling, though she kept her neck and back stiff as if in defiance. The atmosphere was considerably tense.
One of the council members, a captain of the Eldren Barracks, spoke in distressed tones.
"We cannot condone your actions against the Archon people by fulfilling this request. The Archons are our allies and have been for some time. We cannot allow ourselves to get caught in the middle."
The voice of the Amazon was melodic, yet powerful. "The Archons push at our borders as we rush to assemble the necessary troops, and the Elves sit and ponder! We demand the warrior Llandon, son of Aranmor, to train our soldiers and hold our lines!"
Daelin glanced over her shoulder at the warrior who escorted her here. Was he some kind of hero she'd never heard of before? The gentle, patient voice of the Empress cut her thinking short.
"We place ourselves in danger by giving him up. If we make ourselves an enemy to the Archons, they may attack us from across the ocean. Rumors spread of stirrings in the swamps of Dekay. We will need our commander and heir if the Dark Elves should rise again."
"The Archons cannot cross the ocean while we stand before them," said the Amazon hastily. "And the Dark Ones are as unmoving as ever! Aid us, and the Vyantha will protect your borders."
The visage of the Empress was serene but troubled, as a still pond ripples from falling stones. She looked upon the woman with utmost sympathy. "I am sorry."
The air around the Amazon seemed to heat with unexpressed resentment, but her eyes looked upon the council icily. She did not stop to dip her head in respect as she stood and left the Stronghold.
Daelin was not left much time to ponder this course of events. Instead, the Empress addressed her.
"You have been cursed, Daelin Shadowsong," stated the queen simply. She was the religious and magickal figurehead of the Eldren, and her ability to sense a dark enchantment was no surprise to those around her. "Please don't confirm the rumors we have been hearing as of late."
Chills crept up Daelin's spine, for the very memory of the encounter made her heart pound. "I was able to inquire at the village without event. The Amazons have constructed a tower and barracks, and are sending troops - more in number than in skill - to the Archon border. I learned also that Lord Tempest has waged open war with the Archons at the strait, and are pushing into their lands at a quickening pace. Needless to say, I would not trust the words of the Thief who just left us."
The eyes of the council were upon her, more eager to hear of the source of her curse. Daelin took a deep breath and continued.
"I had returned to the Tel'Shan wood when I was attacked by an Assassin. Cormeer the Soul Stealer," if there was any sort of noise in the courtyard now, it had silenced. She could almost feel them imperceptibly shrink away from her and her wound. "his dagger cut my arm, and I fled. I don't recall all that occurred between then and now. I suppose the dagger was cursed."
It was at this time that Llandon chose to speak up.
"I found her, my queen, and three Dark Elves. I brought her to a healer to treat her injuries, and then to the city temple. My queen, the Dark Ones were well within the border. I do not know how they could have passed me."
"If they came from the south," replied the Empress evenly, "then there is no reason you should have encountered them at the northern border. Though the question remains as to how they were able to cross our own territory unchecked by anyone between here and the southern border."
Another council member suggested, "Perhaps the Assassin led them under cover."
"It matters not how they came to be here," said the Empress. "But why. A decade of peace has left our borders lax and open to trespassers. I want the sentry to be doubled, and spies sent to the south to keep wary of Thieves." The members murmured in acknowledgement. "Daelin Shadowsong, I will call upon you in a few days. Until then, rest and be among friends. I shall have a sentry man escort you."
"You needn't trouble yourself, nor your men. I am more than well enough to walk the short path to the Guild." Daelin passed a look at Llandon. Some kind of official, was he? He didn't seem old enough to have landed a position on the council. It was of no consequence and mattered little to her, still she felt thankful for his help. Admitting it was another matter entirely. She nodded her head quickly to him before leaving.
"My lord."
"Lady. Are you sure you require no escort?" There was a slight tinge of desperation in his tone, as if he were seeking an excuse to leave. The voice of the Empress interrupted any reply Daelin might have given.
"Remain, my lord Llandon, and talk with me after council has broken. You are relieved of your duty on the northern border."
Daelin watched the defeated expression cross the warrior's face, but it was quickly masked with a solemn nod and bow. "My queen."
Had she gotten him in trouble, for not having guarded the region carefully enough? Not prepared to deal with the guilt and sympathy which accompanied that thought, she crept silently from the courtyard and departed to the Thieves Guild.