Section Eleven: Blood Line
"You're absolutely sure?" Slippy asked, turning the large, ornate circle of metal in his hands, studying it.
"Absolutely." The artificer smiled. "And if not, call on your gods to smite me. It is not so complex, if you know how to do it."
"I'm sure." He turned the disk over to Katt, who studied it, nodded, and passed it to Rita. "And how do you know that we can call upon gods?" He raised an eyebrow.
The artificer smiled again, looking at where Fox stood, shoulders leaned against a wall and arms crossed. "The brand of a great god glows brightly on that one. I believe you could easily call upon a god."
Slippy shared his smile, and the group left the guild house and collected their mounts.
"So, we are ready to go then?" Fox asked, swinging astride his mount easily.
"Yes, all set." Said Falco. "Finally."
"We can't teleport out here, Fox." Said Peppy.
"And we aren't. We're going to ride out of town, and then Heironeous is going to transport us back to our home kingdom."
"Why not just transport us to outside the capital?" Bill asked tiredly.
"Too obvious, and I personally am in no hurry to return home." Said Fara.
The group spread out into a formation and rode out of the town, and like leaving the capital, many watched them. To those that lived there, the party seemed to radiate power and greatness, and many had heard about the fight against the Unhallowed. The party didn't notice the many eyes on them.
Once outside the city walls, Fara's hippogriff took off, wings slamming open and down, circling the group then flying ahead. Fox's unicorn shed her guise of a normal horse, whinnied to the hippogriff, and when the call was returned, reared and started galloping down the road.
"Be damned, they're racing." Falco laughed. "Do you suppose that Fox is starting to relax finally?"
"Him, relax? No." Julian shook his head. "I think he feels humble."
"Humble? He's been treated practically like a god recently, and that would hardly humble me."
"You, maybe, but our fearless leader is not you." Alan shook a wine bottle at Falco.
"Thank god for that." Rita said, and smiled at Falco's sputters.
An hour later, they found Fara and Fox waiting for them at one side of the road, their steeds relaxing.
"Care to tell us what that was about?" Bill asked.
"Fara's hippogriff's wings were stiff, so I provided some competition as incentive to stretch." Fox replied easily. "Are we ready to return?"
"Yes, I have the need to hug a tree." Alan said.
"I'm not surprised." Falco snickered to himself.
The party fell into a circle facing the center, and Fox pressed his hands together and closed his eyes. Moments later, a flash of lightning struck the center of the circle, then cool air flowed around them.
"My god, that was fast…" Peppy looked up at the spreading tree branches above them. They stood in a small clearing in a forest, busily trying to control their slightly spooked horses. Only the unicorn and hippogriff seemed serene.
"We're about three to four day's ride southeast from the capital." Fox reported, sighing as he looked up at the trees.
"Long as you know how to get us home..." Said Slippy.
Julian went over a mental map in his head absently. "We're in elf country then, are we not?"
"Yes indeed." Katt said. "But I believe I have friends here…"
"You're not the only one." Fox smiled a bit and rode forward, leading the group to a narrow trail and proceeding down it.
"Do you hear music?" Slippy asked, looking up. He was crouched next to a stream, his horse drinking next to him.
"Yes indeed." Julian said, cupping grain in his hand, which his horse delicately ate. "As said, we're in elf country."
"Every race has their own boundaries, no matter what the human kings say about it." Said Peppy, looking at Fox's map, which had been adjusted for the area. "If this is right, we're in the Siannodel's kingdom."
"It's right." Fox said. "A friend of mine mapped that out not a year ago, and I would have been updated if it had changed."
"You have a wide plethora of friends." Rita remarked.
"'Plethora'?" Falco looked at Katt for clarification.
"Assortment." Katt translated.
"Oh. In which case, yes, he does."
"The more allies one has, the more places one can fall back to." Bill said, accepting some grain from Julian to feed his horse.
"Aye, but the more enemies he will be called upon to help fight as well." Alan said, sitting on a tree branch and sawing out a tune.
Another tune, light and windy, played through the air to join Alan's, complimenting it. Alan grinned and sawed faster, not phased, and the flute sped its playing up to match. Fox tilted his head and listened to this, and stunned all by pulling a panpipe from somewhere on his person and adding another tune to this, this one a quick, fleeting series of notes.
The flute fell silent, then replied. Fox grinned, responding again. This continued for several moments.
"You have any idea what's going on, Alan?" Falco asked, looking toward the bard as he leapt down from the tree branch.
"Sure. Music can be used to communicate. Fox is talkin' to someone."
Fox lowered the panpipes, returning them to the same hidden pocket he kept his map in, and lifted his hand to his mouth, calling out in Elven. A pause, and there was a hearty reply, then a form dropped out of a tree about thirty feet away and strode to the party, meeting Fox with open arms. Those that knew Elven managed to keep partway up with the conversation, but everyone else was lost.
"It's about time you came back to visit." The newcomer laughed, clapping hands with Fox, grinning. He was a good bit shorter then Fox was, but it didn't phase him much, and he wasn't phased by the rest of the party either. "We've heard good things about you, Ivellios. Very good things. I take it this is your group, eh?"
"Yes indeed, and my human name is Fox, and you know that."
"Oh, right, right. So care to introduce me?"
"Of course." Fox turned to his party, grinning. "Sorry about that, my friends." He said, swapping easily back to English. "As has been stated, I have friends in an assortment of places, and this is one of them. This is Tharivol Holimion, Elven musician and craftsman."
His party stepped forward, exchanging handshakes with the newcomer, almost all of them smiling as they introduced themselves. Tharivol took it all in stride, lightly kissing the hands of the women in the party and exchanging a quick verse of music with Alan. After this was done, he turned back to Fox. "Will you be in the area long? I'm sure everyone else would be eager to see you."
Fox shifted, rubbing his chin, deep in thought. "Hmm, well… I think we could probably stay a few days, if my fellows are agreeable, because we have been quite busy of late and I think we need some time to relax." His party all rose eyebrows, then nodded.
"Ah, great then." Tharivol stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled piercingly, and seconds later a rather wild looking stallion wearing a simple bridle galloped up to him. Grabbing a handful of mane, he swung aboard, and gestured for Fox's party to do the same. "Shall we?"
"So how long have you known him?" Fara asked as they rode. They had left the trail, and Tharivol wasn't far ahead, talking to Julian as they rode.
"A very long time. Since I was three, I believe. We don't see each other all that often anymore, though."
"Well, you have been busy as of late…"
He smiled. "That is true, though to be truthful, I lost a lot of contact with this area when my father started to crusade, and after he died, well…" He sighed and shook his head. "No matter, it is good to be back, nevertheless."
"And it is good to have you back, Sir Knight." Tharivol teased over his shoulder. "And a human Knight at that, under a human King, no offence to present royalty..."
"None taken." Fara assured him. "I'm not all that proud of it."
"I'm mostly human, Tharivol, so it's only fitting."
"I suppose."
The group fell silent as they broke through underbrush, and the sounds of a city reached them. Looking up, they saw an Elven city wrapping through the trees, rope bridges stretching in an insane spiderweb from tree to tree and a wide assortment of ladders reaching down. Some buildings were on the ground, including a large stable. As they rode toward the stable, calls reached them, and some of them were Fox's name. He acknowledged with a partial salute toward the voices absently.
"My, you seem well known." Falco remarked as he dismounted.
"I have relatives here." Fox replied, smiling as a pair of younger boys scrambled forward to help the travelers remove the tack from their horses.
"Fox, I think we owe you some thanks, we all need a break, and here you are giving us one." Peppy said.
"We've done some hard traveling in some harsh climates my friends. This is a friendly climate, and a welcoming town. I think the balance of the world can stabilize itself for a few days. Besides, I will admit, I am a bit tired of traveling as well."
"Oh my god, he admitted to weakness!" Julian faked a blanch, and laughed when Fox shot him a look.
"Some of the others will help your friends get settled." Tharivol assured Fox. "In the mean time, someone wishes to speak to you."
"All right."
Fox's memory made small returns as he walked over the rope bridges and into one of the larger houses in the town. He knew this place. When was the last time he had been here, when he was ten? It had been quite a while indeed…
Tharivol clapped him on the shoulder and left him in a sitting room, allowing him to wander the room alone. He felt relaxed here. He always had.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
He looked up, and saw a regal Elven man leaning on the doorframe, watching him, looking much the same as when Fox had first met him. "Grandfather. And yes, it has." He stepped forward, smiling.
"I recall you being tall, but not this tall." The elder elf crossed his arms and glared up at his grandson. "How am I supposed to scold you now?"
Fox burst into laughter. "And I suppose you said much the same thing to my father, once."
He smiled a bit sadly. "Yes indeed. I suppose you inherited your height from him. Well, to the present, then. We heard about the war, of course. Some of our soldiers participated, naturally, and the rest were ready to be called to the field. I must say that I am impressed. Your father did teach you well."
"So did you."
"I'm flattered. Quite a party you travel with. I do not think I've seen quite that diverse of a group since your father's rag-tag band, and you have even him beat in that aspect. A guild thief, a priestess of Obad-Hai? Quite some leadership skills you must have."
"So I'm told, but I don't really believe it."
"Good." He smiled as the pair sat down easily. "And what can I do to help you balance the world out?"
"Help us finish resupplying." Fox said frankly. "And as you may have noticed, many of us do not have sufficient tack."
"That can be arranged. Anything else?"
"I don't suppose the arcane archer in my group could be outfitted with a new bow? It's a bit of a story how, but his was broken recently."
"Done." He nodded, pressing his fingertips together. "There is another reason why I asked Tharivol to bring you here, you know."
"I suspected as such." Fox sat back absently, rubbing his fingertips over the arm of the chair. The wood was old, and he smiled. He remembered sitting in this chair when he was a child.
"I tried to speak to your father about this, once, but he didn't want to talk about it…" He hesitated. "You are of course aware of my last name."
"Of course."
"Which, thus, is your last name. Ivellios Siannodel. Fox McCloud." He shook his head slowly. "I do not know which to call you. I always called you Ivellios when you were young, but now, the world is abuzz about a certain paladin named Fox McCloud." He sighed. "Of course, I suppose you have always known your lineage."
"Of sorts." Fox stood and moved over to a window, leaning on the windowsill and looking out. "I always supposed that it didn't apply to me. After all, I have the lifespan of a human, if a healthy one. My father could have perhaps participated in the affairs, but I? No, the blood in my veins is diluted I suppose."
"Not hardly." Aust Siannodel stood and joined his grandson at the window.
Fox looked at him. "You're the King, grandfather. I am hardly a prince. I consider myself a ranger, and when not on a quest such as this, I live a quiet life alone."
"You do what's proper for you, and that has never bothered me. What has bothered me is the fact that I have a grandson that doesn't carry himself as such."
"So, you're asking me to accept my lineage."
"More or less. I'm not asking for you to change your life, merely to accept your name and title." He produced a circlet from his pocket and passed it to Fox. "Which, properly, is Lord."
Fox looked at the circlet, tracing the central stone with his finger. "It's been 'Sir' for the past year or so, and that unto itself was a bit of a surprise. I think I would shock many people if I suddenly announced that oh, by the way, I'm a Lord by my father's side…"
"You don't have to tell me now. You will be here a few days, think it over." Aust stepped away from the window and walked over to the door, pausing. "There is a dance tonight, by the way, just so you know."
"Thank you."
Aust slipped from the room, closing the door behind himself.
"Still no Fox, eh?" Slippy asked, accepting a mug from Fara. She and Alan both were carrying trays. The group was sitting on the grass, watching as musicians played and the dance carried on.
"No." Fara shook her head. "I'm actually a bit worried, even if he has friends here. He's been gone for half the day."
"True, but I wouldn't dwell on it. Tharivol did say someone wanted to speak to him, who are we to know who?" Peppy asked. "Oh, and I'll warn everyone now. Elven wine is known for being very, very strong."
"Not strong enough." Alan said cheerfully. "But that's why they make a substance called 'Raspberry Reaper'…"
"Keep that stuff away from me." Falco said firmly, accepting a mug. "I'm serious. Two swallows of that stuff was enough to make me drunk."
Katt snickered. "I think I must remember that."
Fara sat down with the party, listening to the music, then caught a bit of movement on the edge of her vision. Glancing, she saw Fox, a good distance away from the celebration, circling it and walking away from it. Excusing herself, she followed.
"Fox?" She called, glancing around and finally finding him.
He was leaning on a tree, arms crossed, staring off. Facing away from the party, the huge tree between him and the noise. He didn't react when she walked up.
"What's wrong, Fox?" She folded her arms, looking up at him.
"Just some interesting information about my lineage." He replied after a long pause, dropping his head slowly. "Nothing too important."
"Obviously it is if you've been gone for half the day." She tilted her head to one side.
He laughed a little, a small smile fluttering across his face. "I need time to think."
They were silent for a few minutes. She glanced at him up and down, and saw the circlet that he held loosely in one of his hands. "What's that?"
"Mm? Oh. A family heirloom."
"May I?"
He passed it to her. It was simple in design, but unmistakably elegant, and the center stone was a wonderfully cut diamond. She studied it for a moment, then an odd thought began to sink in.
He had been watching her face, and slowly nodded once.
"This circlet… this is meant for young lords or princes…" She slowly stated, her etiquette lessons making a sluggish return.
"Yes."
"And if it's an heirloom to your family…"
"Yes."
Her look was disbelieving, and he very slowly bowed, a shaky breath emerging.
"My father took the name McCloud when he left Elven society, but it was not the last name he was born with. My name is Ivellios Siannodel, in all truth. The name 'Fox McCloud' is my human name, but it is not the one I was born with."
"Siannodel? Isn't that the…"
"Last name of the local royal family. Yes. My title, properly, isn't 'Sir.' It's 'Lord.'" He shook his head, crossing his arms again, though it seemed more like he was hugging himself. "The person Tharivol took to me to see was my grandfather, Aust Siannodel, the local King. That circlet is mine, my badge of state, as it were."
She slowly passed it back, seeing it in a new light. "So that's why you're avoiding everyone."
"Yes. I am three-quarters human, and serving in a human army under a human king, but I am an Elven Lord." Fox shook his head again. "My grandfather doesn't demand that I participate in the affairs of the position, only that I acknowledge my lineage and title. Hence why I am here right now, and not there." He nodded toward the party.
"Makes sense, I suppose. Besides, I doubt that the rest of your group would believe their eyes if they saw you doing those dances."
"You would?"
She crossed her arms. "I think I've seen a side of you no one else has."
"Ah yes, the moments when I'm not disciplined…" He fingered the circlet, then reached up and slowly pushed it on, then let down his hair, letting it fall down in loose waves to frame his face. It made his Elven blood come out even more so, emphasized by his simple ranger clothing. "Though I suppose it is more, well, 'fun' when I allow myself to drop my discipline, I don't do it often. I do have a reputation I must keep."
"But must you keep it here?" She frowned. "I do not think that the elves care, Fox."
He didn't reply.
"Besides, it isn't the soldier I love, it's you I love. Perhaps, just for one night, you could allow the others to see what you are really like?"
He considered that rather loosely, looking at her. "It is a thought, isn't it?"
"The mission has tired you, hasn't it?" She finally said, watching his eyes.
"Yes." He hesitated, then seemed to shake off, and his next smile was that unrestrained, easy-going smile she remembered and loved. "Perhaps I should just follow my impulses on this, mm?"
She returned the grin. "Perhaps."
He held out his hand, and she caught it, and next thing she knew they were striding back toward the dance.
"This really is an unofficial coming-out ball, I believe." He remarked to her. "They just haven't announced it…"
"I don't know any Elven dances, Fox."
"I haven't done any since I was eight." He responded, entering the clearing and seeking out his grandfather.
Aust didn't need him to say a word; the fact that he wore the circlet was enough. "Shall I announce it?" He asked, smiling.
"In a small while perhaps?" Fox smiled at him. "Thank you."
"No, thank you."
Fara found herself pulled rather unceremoniously to the center of the dance floor, and easily spun, following through with Fox's arm movements. A few moments were enough for Fox to absorb the dance, and they were following the steps. The elves around them did not seem surprised by Fox's circlet; a few nodded or bowed to him, and that was it. As the nearby Elven musicians played, Alan played with them, keeping the fast beat of the music like it was nothing, grinning the entire time, not surprised by Fox. The others, off to one side watching the dance floor, were stunned.
Fox picked Fara up and spun with the step, then set her down. She followed through with the step, spinning away, seeing the steps map out in her mind. It was more or less the same dance going on around them, but it had been built upon, customized. Magical lights flashed around them, and it eventually reached her that the elves that had been dancing had stopped and left the floor open to them, letting them be alone on the floor. Fox noticed also, and if he had been reserved, he would probably have left as well, but now he grinned and used the opportunity, building on the dance even more. She heard herself laughing even as she quickly wore out, knowing that many of the dance moves were improper by the standards of her society, and not caring.
Eventually the dance came to an end, and Fox's grandfather stepped forward and very simply announced in Elven, "If I may present my grandson, Fox Ivellios Siannodel."
The other elves applauded, and once Katt had translated for the rest of the group, they slowly joined in.
"You owe us an explanation." Falco finally said when Fox joined the group, watching Fox's suddenly relaxed step with wide eyes.
"Later." Fox guaranteed with a laugh. "We agreed to take the next few days as time to rebuild our strength and relax. Let us do just that. I guarantee, friends, I will explain fully later, but not during a dance that is being held for my honor."
"Your honor?" Julian finally said.
Fox turned to him with an almost sad smile. "Yes. A coming-out Ball of sorts. As said, I will explain more fully later."
The group nodded.
"And in the mean time, I suggest that you all enjoy yourselves. We are lucky to be so welcome here."
"Absolutely amazing. I've never seen him like this." Peppy remarked, leaning on a tree and watching as Fox and Fara cut loose on the dance floor. Katt had drug Falco up, who had enough alcohol in him he was willing to attempt the dances.
"Neither have I." Julian said. "Did you know he was a Lord?"
"Logically, yes. I was familiar with James' lineage, but it never really struck me that it would be passed to Fox. A ¾ human serving as an Elven lord?" He shrugged. "But, ah well, I guess that doesn't really matter."
"It doesn't." Aust joined them, smiling, and held out a hand toward Peppy. "I thought I should introduce myself. I'm Aust Siannodel, Fox's grandfather."
Those sitting hurridly stood, introducing themselves and shaking his hand.
"Don't worry about being proper. I prefer being a bit more casual about my current position." He accepted a fresh mug from Julian. "Thank you. And I'm sorry if you are a bit surprised about what he is."
"Actually, it rather figures." Said Bill a bit sourly. "For a self-entitled woodsman, he is more regal then most royalty."
Aust smiled. "He had a good teacher." His face fell, but he recovered quickly. "So who is that pray tell?" He asked, gesturing toward Fara. "I am guessing royalty, I am just not sure of the family."
"You're right. Her name is Fara Phoenix, she's been traveling with us this entire quest. She doesn't really care for her princess title." Slippy said.
"I can see that." He smiled again. "Well, I hope you enjoy yourselves over the next few days. From what I have heard, you all deserve the time to rest."
Fox gasped and sat up, one hand on his chest, feeling his fevered heartbeat slowly calm, wiping sweat away. He slowly exhaled, pushing off the soft bed and moving to the window, opening the shutters and leaning out, wrapping one hand around his pendant.
O'Donnel had not given up. He and his two fellow Fists of Hextor were still bound and determined to kill him, and they were on their way. He had no doubt they were not far even now. After all, if Heironeous could teleport his party of ten without a twitch, he had no doubt that Hextor could even easier transport a trio…
'Mmmph… …Fox?'
'Oh, sorry, did I wake you up?' He blinked, surprised by Fara's mental mumble.
'Sort of… felt a sudden blast of fear, and that woke me up. What's wrong?'
'Night terror.' He shrugged.
There was a long pause, and he was beginning to wonder if she had fallen back asleep when she spoke again. 'I take it our friends the Fists of Hextor are still after you, then.'
'Yes, I'm afraid so.' He sighed. 'I'm not sure how close they are, but I have a feeling they will make themselves known soon.'
'Well, try not to dwell on it. We are here to relax, after all.'
He closed his eyes, remembering waking up and having to act immediately, holding his sword tip to O'Donnel's throat. 'I'll try, but death is hanging over my head, you know.'
'You're not going to die.' Was her firm reply. 'We've been through too much for you to die now. We're so close to finishing this, Fox, and I don't want to loose you.'
He closed his eyes. 'I know.'
"That is quite the story, you know." Tharivol remarked. It was early morning, and he and Fox had just finished reliving a bit of their childhood—running through the forest at breakneck speeds, half the time a good bit above the ground and using the branches.
"Yes indeed." Fox pushed his hair back absently. "I'm not sure if I'm proud, but I can't say that I'm not, either. It was quite the journey, and this one is turning out to be even longer, harder, and more complex."
"Well, things do tend to get harder, not easier." He shrugged, climbing up to sit on top of a boulder. Fox swung himself up to sit on another one. "Mind if I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"I was at the dance of course, and I've been wondering… you and the princess traveling with you seem rather close."
"We are." He admitted. "In fact she's trying to duck out of an arrangement her parents are trying to set up for her because of that fact."
"I take it because she'd much rather be with you."
"Yes, that would be it." He stared into the distance. "And if she marries someone else, my family line ends."
"Ah." Tharivol understood that completely. "I'm invited to the wedding, right?"
Fox threw back his head and laughed, loud and joyous. "Yes. Of course."
Peppy lined up an arrow to the bow, feeling the magic tremble through the bow. He smiled a bit and released the arrow. It shot across the field and sank into the center of the target.
"Satisfactory?" Aust asked.
"Wonderful." Peppy said reverently. "Thank you."
"No, I'm happy to help in any way I can." He walked over and passed Peppy a new quiver full of arrows. "Just, please, try to keep my grandson alive. I lost his father. I don't want to loose him."
Peppy sighed and nodded. "I'll do all I can."
