Chapter 37
Kirel walked into the courtyard and was immediately swept up by a flow of guards. Luineroth commanded the chaos standing in the center of the area and issuing orders to various passing elves. He had sent his group back here with the excuse that he had to consult with another and thus would be late. He strode up to Luineroth and waited his turn for the noble's attention.
"Kirel, your group is already dispatched." Luineroth narrowed his eyes in thought. "It will take too long for you to catch up with them, that other group over there has just been given instructions accompany them."
"M'lord."
With minimal friction he joined the new group briefly explaining how he had been separated and reassigned for the moment. The other elves, border elves who had been called in on account of the situation took the explanation with ease. At request they updated him to the situation.
Accordingly both of Luineroths daughters had disappeared. They had been 'spirited away' by two renegade northies who had managed to bypass the border using the larger group as a decoy for their entrance. This much he knew to be false at least the first part for no abduction had taken place it had simply been the plotting of Simvynel, the second part though may as well be true he didn't know. Now they were to travel to the prisons to try and interrogate the other northern elves for information that may lead to the location or possible path of the northern elves and their two prisoners. A logical move but he would have expected as much from the father of Lilluil and Simvynel.
Lilluil was whom he had met first when formerly sent to retrieve her from the lady Aevonien and finding her in the city's forges. The situation had been glaringly obvious and in his perspective equally unfair. He was not one to dispute the laws but the strict codes by which the women and children were forced to live did not seem fair in his mind. He had lied to her father telling that she and the lady had journeyed to the sea front to account for the extra time spent searching. It had gained him her friendship and a edge to his sword. They had something between mutual helpfulness to each other as he would aide her in the keeping of her secret and revenge on the one who revealed it when it was in the open. She on the other hand kept all of their weapons in prime condition with sharper blades than even the royal weaponry.
Simvynel was another matter entirely. He had heard of her long before he ever made her acquaintance. She was apprenticed several times to different masters within the city learning all the trade had to offer but not taking up practice in any, for that alone many knew her. As an apprentice she was duty bound to aide with whatever craft her master practiced, with a knowledge of herbs she was often sent in the master's stead to the border when one or another was injured and the herb master was busy elsewhere.
Too she had an uncanny knack for timing. She would happen to be just around the corner when a hushed conversation took place. It would be she who had decided to go on an early morning stroll when the younger elves were playing on the beach and one needed to be carried back. She would be there when a fight broke out or when one was interrupted due to bloodshed ready with herbs and coincidentally a roll of linen. Nearly half the city was indebted to her and over half wanted her indebted to them.
Her relation to her father was also common knowledge, the string of apprenticeships was to keep her out of the house when she had ended up unconscious when an argument had come to blows. What had caused the rift was not clear but it's existence was obvious. Something had changed the witty but proper Simvynel of seven hundred years ago to the clever and rebellious one of the present, and it was then she had begun to become known.
He had been the one who had gotten even for her sister, soon after his group had been finally noticed after infinite years of work and had been promoted in the ranks getting over the border missions and other assignments and task that weren't merely border patrol. He was sure this was also her work but since she had not come straight out and told him he could not demand a favor to do in return. His honor would not let him do other than repay a favor especially one so undeserved since his entire group was already outfitted with Lilluil's honed weapons so it was all he could do to repay the favor. That and he also felt responsible for loosing Lilluil in the first place as it was his troops duty to protect them through the northern forest.
Turning a last corner they came into sight of the prison and to their surprise no prison guards. The leader of the group signaled for caution and proceeded on quiet feet to the entrance. They cautiously entered the tunnels, Kirel at the rear of the group and proceeded along to where the elves were supposed to be kept. Suspicion rose as they continued along without seeing or hearing any guards.
They finally entered the chamber farthest back where the northern elves were supposed to be and were met by a calculated attack. Northern elves waited around the last corner and surprised the leading elves running in close so that spears would be useless and engaging too soon to draw knives. They also dropped from the ceiling where Kirel supposed they had waited, using their hands and feet to apply pressure against the wall to keep themselves up and out of sight.
He swiftly dropped his spear, getting it out of the way so he could fight unhindered. In the narrow hallway where he was it would be of little use either. He fought one on one with one of the northern elves for a moment until behind him there was a cry of surprise and pain. One he guessed came from a northern elf for his opponent chose that moment to strike him in the side of the head and darted past as he fell. Unconsciousness was not to come however for he had managed to move with the blow lessening the impact substantially. The fighting still went on behind him and he could see that even if he aided them the troop were loosing. Seemingly to tire almost by magic.
Magic. It took only a moment to recite in mind the five spells of the north elves and he was off down the corridor and behind a corner into an empty side passage. The group would most certainly not win if they were paired against a group of northerners. Unlike the northern spells the southern spells did demand a price for their use one which would not be paid unless absolutely necessary. If they were to use their spells the northies would have no chance but likelihood would have it they would also die. That would be unacceptable even though they were elves of a different territory killing kin was atrocious something that was not done amongst elvenkind.
Their magic enabled them to rid the southern lands of all manner of orcs trolls and other agents of the dark. However in social battles such as this one they were at a sore disadvantage. The northern elves magic would penetrate the shield they could erect causing their concentration to falter and the shield to fail. The drowsiness and foresight of the northies allowed them to trap and best their prey so as they could with orcs but they could never command the killing power of the southern spell. It was to say the least a distinct difference in magics.
"That went even better than expected." "Yes, truly luck is on our side in this." "Let us not waste these gifts then, idleness would tempt our good luck to fail." "Yes, we best be going." "Quickly now let's see how many were there in the groups twelve I believe." "There are twelve here, enough of these over tunics for all of us, let's put them in with the others and go."
His ears picked up the sounds of cloth as they took the uniforms of the border guards for disguise he guessed, and then the heavy sound of weights being dragged through sand as well as the locking and unlocking of the prison cell. Finally he watched their shadows pass on the wall as they exited the prison looking none the worse for wear. He took a quick glance at them as they exited.
Yes, they were wearing border garb, and each one had wet their hair to make it shades darker to better pose as southern elves but they would still have to take cautious routes otherwise their lighter locks would indeed betray their true identity. He waited a few moments all too aware of their heightened sense of hearing before he checked the other prison cell where the rest of the group was indeed imprisoned and unconscious or asleep.
Simvynel was planning on jail breaking the northern elves, now that they had escaped it probably would upset her plans even more. He was indebted to her. Reaching behind him he withdrew one of the knives that Lilluil had fixed for him and partially covered it with sand just on the corner of the corridor. She was one of the most clever people he knew, she would guess as to where he was, and what he was doing. Turning he ran after the escapees.
Kirel walked into the courtyard and was immediately swept up by a flow of guards. Luineroth commanded the chaos standing in the center of the area and issuing orders to various passing elves. He had sent his group back here with the excuse that he had to consult with another and thus would be late. He strode up to Luineroth and waited his turn for the noble's attention.
"Kirel, your group is already dispatched." Luineroth narrowed his eyes in thought. "It will take too long for you to catch up with them, that other group over there has just been given instructions accompany them."
"M'lord."
With minimal friction he joined the new group briefly explaining how he had been separated and reassigned for the moment. The other elves, border elves who had been called in on account of the situation took the explanation with ease. At request they updated him to the situation.
Accordingly both of Luineroths daughters had disappeared. They had been 'spirited away' by two renegade northies who had managed to bypass the border using the larger group as a decoy for their entrance. This much he knew to be false at least the first part for no abduction had taken place it had simply been the plotting of Simvynel, the second part though may as well be true he didn't know. Now they were to travel to the prisons to try and interrogate the other northern elves for information that may lead to the location or possible path of the northern elves and their two prisoners. A logical move but he would have expected as much from the father of Lilluil and Simvynel.
Lilluil was whom he had met first when formerly sent to retrieve her from the lady Aevonien and finding her in the city's forges. The situation had been glaringly obvious and in his perspective equally unfair. He was not one to dispute the laws but the strict codes by which the women and children were forced to live did not seem fair in his mind. He had lied to her father telling that she and the lady had journeyed to the sea front to account for the extra time spent searching. It had gained him her friendship and a edge to his sword. They had something between mutual helpfulness to each other as he would aide her in the keeping of her secret and revenge on the one who revealed it when it was in the open. She on the other hand kept all of their weapons in prime condition with sharper blades than even the royal weaponry.
Simvynel was another matter entirely. He had heard of her long before he ever made her acquaintance. She was apprenticed several times to different masters within the city learning all the trade had to offer but not taking up practice in any, for that alone many knew her. As an apprentice she was duty bound to aide with whatever craft her master practiced, with a knowledge of herbs she was often sent in the master's stead to the border when one or another was injured and the herb master was busy elsewhere.
Too she had an uncanny knack for timing. She would happen to be just around the corner when a hushed conversation took place. It would be she who had decided to go on an early morning stroll when the younger elves were playing on the beach and one needed to be carried back. She would be there when a fight broke out or when one was interrupted due to bloodshed ready with herbs and coincidentally a roll of linen. Nearly half the city was indebted to her and over half wanted her indebted to them.
Her relation to her father was also common knowledge, the string of apprenticeships was to keep her out of the house when she had ended up unconscious when an argument had come to blows. What had caused the rift was not clear but it's existence was obvious. Something had changed the witty but proper Simvynel of seven hundred years ago to the clever and rebellious one of the present, and it was then she had begun to become known.
He had been the one who had gotten even for her sister, soon after his group had been finally noticed after infinite years of work and had been promoted in the ranks getting over the border missions and other assignments and task that weren't merely border patrol. He was sure this was also her work but since she had not come straight out and told him he could not demand a favor to do in return. His honor would not let him do other than repay a favor especially one so undeserved since his entire group was already outfitted with Lilluil's honed weapons so it was all he could do to repay the favor. That and he also felt responsible for loosing Lilluil in the first place as it was his troops duty to protect them through the northern forest.
Turning a last corner they came into sight of the prison and to their surprise no prison guards. The leader of the group signaled for caution and proceeded on quiet feet to the entrance. They cautiously entered the tunnels, Kirel at the rear of the group and proceeded along to where the elves were supposed to be kept. Suspicion rose as they continued along without seeing or hearing any guards.
They finally entered the chamber farthest back where the northern elves were supposed to be and were met by a calculated attack. Northern elves waited around the last corner and surprised the leading elves running in close so that spears would be useless and engaging too soon to draw knives. They also dropped from the ceiling where Kirel supposed they had waited, using their hands and feet to apply pressure against the wall to keep themselves up and out of sight.
He swiftly dropped his spear, getting it out of the way so he could fight unhindered. In the narrow hallway where he was it would be of little use either. He fought one on one with one of the northern elves for a moment until behind him there was a cry of surprise and pain. One he guessed came from a northern elf for his opponent chose that moment to strike him in the side of the head and darted past as he fell. Unconsciousness was not to come however for he had managed to move with the blow lessening the impact substantially. The fighting still went on behind him and he could see that even if he aided them the troop were loosing. Seemingly to tire almost by magic.
Magic. It took only a moment to recite in mind the five spells of the north elves and he was off down the corridor and behind a corner into an empty side passage. The group would most certainly not win if they were paired against a group of northerners. Unlike the northern spells the southern spells did demand a price for their use one which would not be paid unless absolutely necessary. If they were to use their spells the northies would have no chance but likelihood would have it they would also die. That would be unacceptable even though they were elves of a different territory killing kin was atrocious something that was not done amongst elvenkind.
Their magic enabled them to rid the southern lands of all manner of orcs trolls and other agents of the dark. However in social battles such as this one they were at a sore disadvantage. The northern elves magic would penetrate the shield they could erect causing their concentration to falter and the shield to fail. The drowsiness and foresight of the northies allowed them to trap and best their prey so as they could with orcs but they could never command the killing power of the southern spell. It was to say the least a distinct difference in magics.
"That went even better than expected." "Yes, truly luck is on our side in this." "Let us not waste these gifts then, idleness would tempt our good luck to fail." "Yes, we best be going." "Quickly now let's see how many were there in the groups twelve I believe." "There are twelve here, enough of these over tunics for all of us, let's put them in with the others and go."
His ears picked up the sounds of cloth as they took the uniforms of the border guards for disguise he guessed, and then the heavy sound of weights being dragged through sand as well as the locking and unlocking of the prison cell. Finally he watched their shadows pass on the wall as they exited the prison looking none the worse for wear. He took a quick glance at them as they exited.
Yes, they were wearing border garb, and each one had wet their hair to make it shades darker to better pose as southern elves but they would still have to take cautious routes otherwise their lighter locks would indeed betray their true identity. He waited a few moments all too aware of their heightened sense of hearing before he checked the other prison cell where the rest of the group was indeed imprisoned and unconscious or asleep.
Simvynel was planning on jail breaking the northern elves, now that they had escaped it probably would upset her plans even more. He was indebted to her. Reaching behind him he withdrew one of the knives that Lilluil had fixed for him and partially covered it with sand just on the corner of the corridor. She was one of the most clever people he knew, she would guess as to where he was, and what he was doing. Turning he ran after the escapees.