The Ambition of the Dreadlord Raveres
Part II: Allies, Foes, and Bargains
Episode Seven
Raveres cringed uneasily as she looked at the merchant Sadalsuud. In the morning light she saw that he had changed clothes and also a palpable odour emanated from the tanned and hairy Arabyan.
His clothes were dyed cyan with orange-coloured highlights and accents, the material was obviously silk of a very high quality and Raveres raised an eyebrow as she considered the price he must have paid for so much dyed material. His blouse was ruffled and gave his arms a poufy appearance, the neck was a deep V exposing his curly chest hair and framing a golden amulet which he wore on a silver chain.
Sadalsuud was also wearing the same headdress, or turban, that he had on when she first saw him. It was a large white material wrapping his head which almost completely covered his hair, save for a few curly black locks which peeked out down his forehead.
The smell though. The more she looked at him the more it assaulted her senses. It was roses? Or at least it was a concoction trying to emulate roses. Sadalsuud obviously put it on for her, but any seductive power the perfume may have had was soundly defeated by his over application of the scent.
His many rings and golden amulet shone in the sunlight and she saw that his belt connected to a thin scabbard on his left side. There were small diamond shaped windows at regular intervals along the length of the sheath and she curiously tried to see the blade within. Though she was moving and far from him she swore that the blade's colour was yellow…
'Don't tell me… his sword is gold?! Really?' she eyed the man in disbelief and took a breath as she steeled herself.
The knight Sir Jean had led their horses' just outside the gates of the old monk's castle and the three were watching the Arabyans of Sadalsuud's caravan repacking and preparing their camels for the journey ahead.
The Bretonnian knight waved a greeting and moved closer before beginning to speak with the rotund and colourful merchant. Raveres pressed her breast and body tightly against Jacque's back unintentionally as she leaned forwards; raising her right hand impatiently she smacked the squire's right arm. Indicating he was to drive their horse closer.
She wanted to be part of the conversation that Sir Jean and Sadalsuud were currently having and was not about to miss anything potentially important about her new 'partner'.
Sir Jean and the Arabyan acknowledged Jacque and then the elf before finishing what they were saying. The knight turned towards his squire and then looked past him towards Raveres,
"Sadalsuud was hoping to speak with you as we rode."
She nodded and cleared her throat, "I was coming over to state the very same."
Sadalsuud snapped an order to one of his people and a beautiful grey stallion was brought from the back of the caravan train. It was wearing a very new and bejeweled bridle and the majesty of the horse's appearance was magnified by the dirty and work-clothed servant who acted as its groom. Though he was entirely strange and off putting, Raveres couldn't help but admire Sadalsuud.
He was obviously wealthy; and even if his personal display of opulence was merely a façade the reality was that his caravan proved he wasn't merely showing a falsehood. His train of camels and horses was seventeen pack animals in total, mountains of cargo were tied to the beast's backs, and Sadalsuud commanded a mixed cohort of workers; collar-wearing slaves who did the loading and manual labour, as well as free men who were dressed in the same coloured and styled clothing as one another.
Then there were the armed guards. Sadalsuud's bodyguard wore blue turbans and a red sash which covered their face. Their arms were all very muscular and their skin was in a wide range of colours, from a tan similar to that of Sadalsuud's own, to the darkest shade that Raveres had ever seen on a Human.
The armour that each guard wore differed from man to man too; some wore leather cuirass with pauldrons, some without. Some wore mail and scale iron armour. And then there were ones with simple light tunics. In addition to the lack of uniformity concerning their armour, their weaponry was also seemingly up to each individual man.
Some bore broadly curved blades; some had thinner curved short swords and a few had both a sword as well as some form of pole-arm; there were several spearmen, a few halberdiers, and then a few with a strange hook-like weapon at the end of a mid-length stave.
'Each of these men owes their allegiance to him.' Raveres thought enviously. 'I bet he had more than just this, I just know he owns a private army.' She nodded with jealousy, 'I'm sure of it!'
She hid a smile as she looked over the loud activity of the packing caravan. The collar wearing servant who was pulling the horses' reins then stopped and held the horse still while a second servant appeared from beside Sadalsuud and knelt to become a Human step-stool. The bulky merchant stepped on his servant and then pulled himself onto the horses' saddle.
Raveres smirked approvingly as she watched the Arabyan over Jacque' head. With a smile and a chuckle, the merchant adjusted his costumed headdress and moved around until he was comfortable.
Hissing and pointing back towards the other working slaves Sadalsuud issued an order in his tongue and the two tanned servants immediately bowed their heads and rushed back to assist loading the last of their camp.
Pulling his reins and lightly jabbing his heels into his horse's flanks Sadalsuud came closer towards the two Bretonnian steeds, beaming a smile at Raveres he began curling his moustache and loudly greeted her.
Sir Jean set immediately to translating.
"He says that, your face and hair shine like the silver of the moon." The knight stifled a chuckle and continued, "To see you now is like to see a great diamond glittering in the desert."
Raveres pushed her lips out in a pout and looked away from the pining Arabyan.
"Tell him this diamond needs a sword. I'm still willing to offer him my gold for a blade and if his people may repair my cuirass."
Tied to one of Jacque's saddle bags were the two halves of Raveres' dented and strapless breastplate. Her right gauntlet too was in Jacque's saddle bag, but other than those two articles she remained devoid of any arms or armour.
Sadalsuud nodded and snapped his fingers while calling a name. A servant rushed over to the merchant's side and the two began exchanging quick words. Disappointed Sadalsuud waved the servant off and looked back up at Raveres and shook his head as he spoke. Sir Jean nodded and turned to the elf.
"He says that his men have packed away the weapons they had to sell; he apologises for this great inconvenience."
Taking a deep breath Raveres resigned herself and maintained an expression of indifference. Sadalsuud pointed to himself and then to several of his armed guards before speaking and chuckling heartily.
"He says that you have nothing to fear, there are none stupid enough to attack his caravan while he is with it. If his identity as the brother of the Emir isn't enough to deter raiders, then his many men and their strong blade arms will keep you safe."
Raveres scoffed and straightened her back as she interrupted Sir Jean.
"I am not amused by such an insinuation knight."
The older Bretonnian took a breath and continued, "It is a two day's journey to the nearest port city. Sadalsuud says that when we camp for the evening, he shall see about getting you a suitable weapon."
Raveres cooled somewhat and softened her gaze, she sighed and eventually acquiesced "That's acceptable."
She wasn't really in any position to begin making demands, and she was aware that it was entirely possible for not only the Arabyan to change his mind and abandon her, but that the two Bretons could leave her here at the gates of the now closed monastery. She still had no weapons but her teeth and hands, and even then Raveres knew she was not one hundred percent for a brawl.
As she thought she also considered, 'He could easily order his camels unloaded and a blade presented to me now.' she smirked, 'Oh the cheeky Human devil, he's merely reminding me of my state. That's all this is!'
She did her best to mask her displeasure. Raveres was at every disadvantage she could think of; unequipped, on her own, and without knowledge of the area, no water or food of her own, no map, and no handling of the local tongues or customs.
The Druchii was going to have to walk a very precarious path indeed if she was to get even a fraction of what she envied in Sadalsuud. Understanding her agreement of his message from her tone and body language, the merchant required no additional translation before he bowed his head and spoke; the knight repeated his words but this time he seemed a little more reluctant to relay the message.
"He says that we will be travelling soon and begs your forgiveness at the tardiness of his slaves. A few of the camels were being stubborn this morning."
Sir Jean paused and shook his head at his own blunder, "My apologies, he said the tardiness of the camels, a few slaves were being stubborn." he cleared his throat and repeated "My mistake Druchii."
Raveres rolled her eyes, 'I care very little.' she thought.
Changing the subject, she looked towards the knight and involuntarily her haughty, presumptuous, upbringing painted her words,
"Sir Jean naturally you will accompany me after we reach whatever this destination is. I don't even know the city. But I will make most important use of your services as translator."
The knight immediately furrowed his brow in confusion and opened his mouth to scoff. At first, he thought she had made an odd joke, but he quickly realised she was serious. Darting between Jacque and Sadalsuud he began his retort as calmly as he could.
"My lady… you must forgive me again, but when we arrive in the city our journey together will have come to its end. Jacque and I are in service to our liege lord and our objective, our mission, and our oaths come first."
Raveres furrowed her brow.
"It is only a great convenience and coincidence that our destination and that of Sadalsuud's is the same." He noticed her slight change in demeanour and offered a conciliatory tone, "Though… I am sure that a speaker of Druhir or of Asurian can be found and employed in the city."
Raveres was not used to being contradicted or having an assumption of hers proven incorrect and so at first, she darted her eyes away from the knight to observe Sadalsuud's workers, trying her best to hide her sudden expression of irritation and disappointment.
Sir Jean was at a loss and quickly tried to assuage her embarrassment, "My lady, as I said I apologise, but I am not a sell-sword, nor am I a translator. I am a knight."
Ignoring his words, she remained looking away from the Breton as she flippantly responded, "Just as well I suppose, I was wondering how best to discharge myself of a decrepit old man, and a half-witted boy."
The knight furrowed his brow and gawked in surprise before she continued, "Tell the Arabyan that provisions must be made for a translator of my tongue, and that if his slaves work any slower, I'll beat them myself."
Sir Jean cringed internally. 'I've seen some egotistical lords and ladies before… But the tales of elven arrogance are certainly not amiss in this Druchii.'
Sadalsuud furrowed his brow in confusion at first but the knight explained the situation as diplomatically as possible so that the Arabyan could understand what else had happened.
Turning back to Raveres he repeated curtly, "He says he understands."
Raveres adjusted the white hood over her head as she spoke.
"Good, now tell your boy to ride us outside of this village, I can't stomach the stink of these Human peasants any longer."
Sir Jean tensely looked at the Druchii for a moment before speaking to Jacque in Bretonnian, "Ride the horse out to the edge of the village, we'll be along shortly. But Druchii?"
Raveres raised a brow and looked at Sir Jean with a smarmy almost childish expression. The knight's features narrowed and he paused.
"I know of no land which is welcoming to one without allies, and if you wish to return to your homeland your fate hangs by a thread."
Raveres opened her mouth to hiss a response but for some reason the stern and serious features of the old knight gave her pause.
Recalling some of his first words to her she remembered his deathly serious threat; 'I will run my sword through your heart without hesitation.'
She'd been bested by the Asurian swordsman during the raid and she'd been thoroughly beaten by Annio de Bilbali. In both cases she misjudged her own abilities and nearly paid for it with her life. This knight, though Human, though old, made her immediately think;
'Only two kinds of warriors get old. And this 'Sir Jean'? He's no coward, and quite obviously knew his way around warfare.'
Raveres thought for a moment about how close the knight was to her. Though they were on horseback he was still within two sword lengths. It was more than enough space to get his steed to move forwards, draw steel, and impale her exposed throat, her face, or her unarmoured chest.
She swallowed her dry and empty mouth, "I…"
She blinked and darted her eyes to look at Sadalsuud and then their surroundings. Sir Jean's features somewhat softened and he nodded to Jacque. The squire then tapped his heels into his horse's belly while squeezing with his thighs.
Pulling his reins to the right he began driving down the road that they had come, through the hamlet. Raveres began breathing a little sharper and deeper as she swallowed and wiped her brow nervously.
'I… I really am in a bad position here aren't I? By the gods I… no! Shut up, just shut up! Just…'
The squire Jacque moved in the saddle and had to press his back into her chest as he directed his horse around a cart to the side of the road. Raveres looked down at the squire and recalled the previous evening. She lightened and let out a small dry chuckle.
'Just ride…'
…
When Jacque rode to the edge of the town his passenger sounded distressed; her breathing was shallow, she was making odd sounds as she exhaled, and her shuffling movement in the saddle was fidgety.
But as soon as they passed the last peasant hovels and trotted to the side of the road to turn and wait for the rest of the caravan she calmed. The horse whinnied and brought one of its front legs up in irritation. Jacque leaned forwards and began rubbing his right hand along the horses' neck while cooing and loudly issuing pleasantly sounding noises to soothe the mount.
Raveres pressed a hand to his shoulder to steady herself as she tried to become comfortable in the cramped saddle.
Jacque was almost glad she couldn't see his face. As soon as her hand gripped his shoulder his eyes darted open and he gulped nervously.
'Oh gods… this is such a bad idea! Why couldn't she have gotten her own steed from that rich, fat, Arabyan bastard?'
As the squire leaned back from his petting of the horse, he tried to turn to see his passenger's face. Raveres wasn't watching the caravan in front of them but was instead looking to their far right.
All around them the landscape was dotted with rough bushes and rocky outcrops amidst small patches of grass and larger hills of rocky sand. But past their immediate surroundings was what seemed to be a large rippling sea of yellow and white sands, beyond which, just at the horizon was the hint of a mountain range.
These mountains to their right were the focus of Raveres' attention and she seemed to be staring at them. She didn't seem to care that Jacque was craning his neck around awkwardly to catch a glimpse of her face. Looking back forwards the squire took a breath and shook his shoulders nervously. Raveres finally removed her hand from his left shoulder and spoke quickly.
Jacque felt frustrated that he still didn't know what she had said but he wasn't about to turn around again… 'that's too weird maybe?' he thought.
'Oh gods… this is too much for me…' shaking his head from side to side he looked towards Sir Jean as the caravan appeared to finally be moving.
…
The cool tops of the distant mountains somehow gave Raveres some solace and she was able to calm her breathing and the tightness in her chest. When she looked away, she was even more relieved to see the caravan beginning to get closer to them down the road.
At the fore of the procession were Sir Jean, Sadalsuud, and two of the Arabyan's guards on horseback. The rest of the caravan was either on some of the horse, or camel, drawn carts, or they were on foot; walking on either side of the long train.
Sadalsuud had encouraged his horse to ride a little quicker ahead and Sir Jean and the guards followed. Beaming another smile at Raveres she slightly nodded her head in acknowledgement.
'Hopefully the conversation I will be forced to endure will not make me wish for death…'
Jacque squeezed his steed and the two began moving. Raveres looked at the two guards and they each pulled their scarves from their faces, grotesque expressions of lust and desire across their hardened and rugged features.
Despite her belief the previous night that she'd penitently escaped divine retribution she exhaled and thought to herself, 'Gods… this is punishment, this is my punishment from Lord Khaine and Father Asuryan I know it…'
After getting over her apprehension Raveres began to learn more from Sadalsuud about their mutual enemy; Annio as the rode. Though it didn't take long for Sadalsuud to have to drop behind from the head of the caravan to issue orders to his servants and break the conversation periodically.
During these moments of quiet Jacque and Sir Jean would speak amongst one another and Raveres would keep to herself. Plotting, watching the rolling desert to their sides, counting the ancient ruins, and perspiring…
…
Wiping her brow, Raveres announced to Sir Jean; "Water… Where's your squire's water skin?"
The knight looked from his squire to the elvish passenger and took a deep breath.
"It's on the right side of his horse, should you wish. Also, for your own benefit water is 'eau' in our tongue."
Raveres issued a 'tsk' as she thought, 'Like I care what it-' her thoughts stopped as she looked over at Sir Jean. The knight's face seemed to have far less patience than he'd shown before.
"Eau?" she repeated.
Jacque perked up and said, "Eau pour Raveres?"
She immediately looked in front at the squire and the youth easily leaned over while reaching for his skin. Humbled Raveres awkwardly caught on her words. Sir Jean smirked and looked back ahead as he squeezed his horse and slightly increased his pace.
Unclipping the visibly heavy and full water skin Jacque held it aloft and exclaimed in his odd language, "Pour vous!"
Raveres took the skin in her hands and let out an expectant breath. She was sweating, she was hot, and she knew as soon as the water passed her lips, she'd feel relief.
'This whole ordeal is lessened just by some water, just a little. Oh, gods yes…'
Making use of Jacque's water skin Raveres greedily began consuming almost all of its contents. Jacque actually attempted to stop her as she reached for the skin for the third time in an hour.
He was trying to say that she'd make herself sick, if she kept at it too quickly, and that the water they had would have to keep for the rest of the day, but the young squire was quickly introduced to Druchii wrath.
Pinching his ear with her free left hand she pulled the small tuft of Human cartilage and dug her nails into his right wrist which had stopped her from unclipping the skin from the horse's side. Loudly protesting and groaning in pain Jacque turned his head to the left as Raveres continued to pull his ear.
At the noise coming from his squire Sir Jean turned around and immediately yelled at the Druchii, "Unhand him immediately!"
Stopping mid action Raveres raised her lip in a sneer, "Your servant boy dares to stop me drinking? Knight, my people have long memories and though my present circumstances may not suggest it, I have no qualms about revenging myself over this slight!"
Sir Jean looked at the caravan and brought his horse towards the squire's before turning so that they were very close.
"Unhand my boy and listen to me you insolent she-elf."
Raveres eyes widened and she leaned away in surprise.
"Unhand him!"
Minding the volume of his voice and the distance between them and the caravan and its guards behind it seemed as if Sir Jean had something of importance to relay. Relinquishing her tight grip from Jacque's ear he leaned forwards and began rubbing the red lobe with his right hand while maintaining the reins with his left.
"Sadalsuud's guards were demanding to know who you were, I spoke with him and they're not entirely receptive to letting you go once we reach the city."
Raveres face became confused, "What?"
"No, I'm not finished; you will continue to listen to me my lady. You are clearly not half of what you're trying to be. I'm old enough to know much of what I've seen, and you are not in any position to think you can get away with the attitude you have right now."
Nervously Raveres paused and held her tongue.
"You need us… and until you are safely out of our charge, I am unfortunately honour bound to aid you. But I will be damned if you continue to act in this way."
Raveres' brow could decide on an expression and her body began to feel as if she was being scolded by her father. Childhood fear began to grip her oddly.
"I…" she whispered.
"Sadalsuud has had to change your agreement. Before we left, he had told me to share this with you when we first stopped for a rest, but now seems a much better time."
Raveres forgot about her desire for water and tensely tried looking over her shoulder at the men of the caravan behind them.
"No, stay looking at me…" Sir Jean ordered, "Though he commands great fear and respect Sadalsuud has told me that there are a few men of his company which are not to be trusted, and he cannot control them entirely."
The knight stopped and exhaled heavily as he darted his eyes to his side, "I do not know how to say this to a lady!"
Raveres furrowed her brow, "Say what?"
"These men of his want you… They want you a slave…"
The implications of what Sir Jean was really saying hit home like a true-shot arrow. Raveres' eyes widened and she bared her teeth in disgust.
"I know how it is, I know enough of the Druchii and I think I understand you enough that 'thanks' 'gratitude' and 'humility' are not qualities or things actively practised. But you aren't a fool."
Sir Jean shook his head and smirked, "Or if you are, I sincerely wish you the best of luck. But despite what you may think, you need us. So perhaps you should begin to acknowledge and respect that fact, even if the truth that my squire saved your life is not enough to inspire some form of debt in you."
Raveres looked down at Jacque and began to feel shame across her face, "Perhaps I…"
Cutting her off Sir Jean made a perplexed expression, "Surely your race has some concept of life-debt?"
They continued in silence before Raveres began to look down at her chest, hiding her face shamefully as she begrudgingly spoke.
"How may I re-repay this debt? And… I… I must apologise t-to you both…"
Raveres' thoughts raced as she fearfully considered the more tenuous situation, she was in. Sir Jean relaxed and leaned back in his saddle as he replied.
"For now? Acting courteously towards us would be a good start. Another would be to apologise to Jacque."
She looked up balefully and the knight met her gaze with stoic resolve.
Eventually she gave in. "Okay…"
"In our tongue."
"What!?"
"Me saying to him what you've said counts very little, it'd make a far greater impact for you to say it in a tongue that he understands."
Raveres looked away from Sir Jean to her right and hid her face with the side of her hood for several long seconds before her voice quietly responded.
"W-what must I repeat…"
Sir Jean took a breath through his nose and nodded,
"Like so…"
Jacque rubbed his ear and groaned as he tried his best to avoid what had just happened. Privately he enjoyed listening to Sir Jean scolding the elf because her words, her breathing, Jacque could feel it along his back.
But then she began speaking, and it sounded familiar. More than that it was her voice, but he understood it!
"Young Jacque, I… I am desolated at my"
Raveres groaned and looked at Sir Jean as he continued to coach her.
"I beg?"
Sir Jean nodded, and she continued with her thick accent,
"I… beg your… forgiving ness…"
Jacque looked back over his shoulder and smirked. They were very close, and this time she was the one with red cheeks and embarrassed expression. Her eyes appeared pained, and she reminded Jacque of a child who had been unruly and then swiftly made to amend.
In a strange way he enjoyed her expression and the clear discomfort that she was displaying. He nodded once in acceptance and she immediately sighed in relief. She spoke a few words and stopped herself before pursing her lips. Sir Jean nodded to Jacque and then they continued riding quietly.
…
Miles from Araby, the sun of the desert, and the misfortunate world Raveres had stumbled into, her mother, Lady Naguii, stepped towards a steaming bath.
Letting her thin, see-though silk robe fall to the marble floor she exhaled calmly as she looked towards the magnificent mural of her bathroom. It was a scene of several she-elves in pools of water, surrounded by nymphs, in various states as they were entertained by boxing Druchii noblemen. The centre she-elf was actually her likeness, and each of the nymphs and elves was one of her daughters.
As much a display of the artist's skill, the piece was a romantic portrayal of how she saw her own family. It cost a large sum and took much longer to complete than she thought it should have, but when it was finished Lady Naguii was pleased to no end to have such a wonderful and accurate portrayal of her daughters all in one place.
The room was well lit by sconces burning brightly and the breathing of her slaves reminded her that she was not alone in the room. Before becoming carried away with her thoughts she took a deep breath. Elianna and a new female Human slave stood at either side of their mistress as she began to enter the large stone pool in the middle of the room.
"I am vexed…" she eventually declared.
Elianna looked up and shared a confused glance with her fellow slave. Lady Naguii didn't continue speaking as she stepped into her bath. The silence indicated that she was waiting for one of the two slaves to speak up. Finding her voice Elianna cleared her throat and brushed a lock of her golden hair off her cheek while speaking, "What is it which troubles you my lady?"
With a sigh of satisfaction, the Druchii lowered and sat onto the carved seat in the corner of the oval bath. The lady's long black hair swirled around her and floated in the water like tendrils of darkness.
"My youngest daughter…"
Elianna nodded and as the Druchii closed her eyes she held a hand out of the water lazily. The high-elf and the Human slave knew this to be their signal to begin filing their mistress' nails and grooming her.
"I fear Raveres left too suddenly."
Elianna knelt at the edge of the water and took her mistress' hand in hers. Rubbing her fingers and palm the slave responded, doing her best to not be a total supplicant, as well as to not be too serious a bore.
"She was well sent off; many offerings were made; she was well equipped. Lord Titos met with the captain; he seemed at ease with him?"
Lady Naguii tensed and leaned her head back over the lip of the bath.
"Oh, that's another one of my problems! I didn't meet with this captain. I wasn't the one to inspect the crew… Perhaps they were in want of sharper blades? Or… or New sails?"
She shook her head in irritation.
"I have no knowledge of sailing… But I was unable to make any such inquiries!"
Elianna sighed, "My lady."
Having owned and interacted with the high-elf almost her entire life so far, Lady Naguii allowed and now expected the young woman's familiarity
"I know, I know… you're right Elianna…"
The room became quiet except for the breathing of the women, their movements, the occasional splash of water as Lady Naguii moved a limb, and the crackling of the braziers.
She opened her eyes and looked at Elianna with a smirk. Looking up from her mistress' nails the slave furrowed her brow, "What is it mistress?"
"You know what he brought up the other day?"
Elianna cocked her head in confusion, seemingly asking 'who'.
"Lord Titos, my husband…"
Lady Naguii scoffed and threw her head back in an exaggerated laugh, "So, after dinner yesterday as we are sitting in the parlour sharing wine he asks me; 'How is my father?' a rather innocuous subject, but I thought nothing of it so I say 'he's well'; the last correspondence I shared with him stated as much, and then Titos asks me, 'Is he satisfied with his grandchildren?'"
She took a breath and continued, adding context for the slave, "My sister and brother are both celebrating yet more spawn."
Elianna loudly cringed. Lady Naguii had made it well known she detested her nieces and nephews, and always ordered the slaves to 'watch the silverware' whenever her family made a visit to Blacklight Tower, and the Naguii villa.
"Do they know the sexes?" Elianna asked.
Lady Naguii nodded, "Oh two new nephews, we'll be expected to send gifts soon actually, I've been putting it off. But anyway…"
The slave nodded as her mistress resumed her previous subject,
"Titos then gives me this look…" Pausing for emphasis the Druchii looked at her slave and Elianna nodded while repeating, "A 'look' my lady?"
"Yes, and then he says; 'With so many of our children now grown the house is 'emptier' for it, don't you agree?'"
Elianna opened her mouth in disbelief, "No!"
Lady Naguii nodded and scoffed, "Yes! So, the fool leant closer towards me and then pushed my wine glass closer."
Elianna paused her filing of her mistress' nails.
"So… what does my lady want to do?"
Lady Naguii threw her head back and loudly groaned.
"Oh gods… I don't know. I know Titos is disappointed that his youngest is a whelp and that the majority of his progeny are women… But I swear I don't think I could stand him through another pregnancy. And I don't think I could sire another child…"
Elianna furrowed her brow; her mistress wasn't barren, even Morathi one of the longest lived of all the Druchii still bled with each month. And even if Lady Naguii was, it was well known that among older Druchii it was possible through rites and magic incantations to still sire healthy children. Immediately the high-elf nodded as Lady Naguii continued:
"It's just so much effort!"
Her mistress' voice climbed as she became more irritated, "The wet-nurses, the soothsaying's, the rites, the slaves needing to be purchased, and then the family's reactions!"
"And the timing? Really? I mean…" she groaned in revulsion. "If Raveres is to die on her voyage I'd like it to look like we weren't breeding a replacement right after she left."
Shaking her head from side-to-side Lady Naguii closed her eyes and laid her head back again.
"I don't know Elianna… I've told him that if he needs to stick it in something, we have slaves a plenty for that…"
Elianna hid a cringe as she thought about her master Titos nude. He wasn't hideous, he was somewhat handsome, but… the idea of him fucking the other slaves, or especially her caused her to ripple with a disquieting feeling.
"Ah… pay it no mind I suppose… He's just worried. I know he doesn't look it, but as soon as he brought up Raveres' departure I had to argue against him to let her go on it."
Elianna furrowed her brow, "It wasn't the money? Lady Raveres feared that was the greatest worry?"
Shaking her head Lady Naguii continued, "No… he was simply reluctant to see his last daughter leave in such a way. He would have preferred her 'marry well', but I told him outside of Raveres snagging a prince of the Black Court there was no calibre of Druchii worthy of her…"
With a smirk Lady Naguii reopened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. "Of all my children, two have more me in them than him…"
She nodded and pulled her hand from Elianna's light grip.
Inspecting her now shortened and carefully manicured nails she smiled in satisfaction.
"Raveres is one of them… and though our first-born son looks like Titos…" she looked at Elianna and raised an eyebrow.
"That boy is all me."
Nodding and closing her eyes Elianna and the Human slave swapped sides and the high-elf set to working on Lady Naguii's other hand.
"Raveres is my heiress…"
With a sigh the Druchii raised a leg out of the water and stretched the lithe limb like she was a dancer.
"Until I know she's dead I shan't be siring any further children."
Nodding Lady Naguii agreed with herself.
"Tomorrow I shall go to the market and purchase some slaves for slaughter at the temple. One can never show enough piety."
Elianna nodded, "Perhaps Arabyans?"
Opening her eyes Lady Naguii looked at the elf with confusion.
"Since that's where Lady Raveres is, it would make sense to sacrifice kin of her foes?"
Issuing a loud noise of agreement Lady Naguii then nodded, "You know, that makes sense, I hadn't thought of that before…"
She smiled evilly as she praised her slave, "Good idea Elianna. Good idea!"
…
The caravan had travelled far enough that now the coast was in sight. But their speed had been wanting. Raveres was numb with boredom and was thankful that they were finally stopping for the evening. Since her 'candid' chat with the knight she began to eye the Arabyans with disdain and increased suspicion.
Before dismounting she called to Sir Jean, "I need a sword."
Behind the two Bretonnian steeds Sadalsuud was panting and barked at his slaves. They began unloading the camels and horses and then two of their number rushed towards their master to help him dismount his steed. Sir Jean climbed off his horse and spoke with their host.
As the servants began setting camp and constructing tents and fires Sadalsuud nodded and waved Raveres and Jacque towards him.
"Well… here we go…" she whispered.
Waiting for Jacque to dismount first Raveres then easily slid out of the saddle and immediately felt the discomfort from having ridden all day. Her back was sore, her legs were sore, her ass was sore, and even between her legs, somehow, even her pussy felt sore!
Taking her first steps forwards she groaned in pain and did her best to stifle any kind of noise. But Sir Jean and Jacque clearly knew that she was hobbling and walking with somewhat of a slowed limp.
Sadalsuud called to his servants and one brought forwards a wet cloth for him while the other held what looked like, for lack of a better word, a carpet. Bringing the thick rolled material forwards the servant laid it down at Sadalsuud's feet and bowed before the merchant kicked the side of the roll to unfurl it.
Inside was a dozen swords, each was fastened to the thick material and laid within like a surgeon's, or torturers, tool kit. Raveres let out a shuddering breath of relief at the sight of the deadly implements and smiled.
Sadalsuud pointed and began speaking as Sir Jean translated, "He says these are his choicest bladed wares. You may have any one of these weapons that you feel would serve you best."
Raveres slowly knelt and began eyeing each of the unique weapons. There were short swords, scimitars, longswords, hilt-less dueling swords, a rapier, and then she saw one which spoke to her; third from the middle lay an inch and a half wide, elven long sword. Its hilt was simple black-steel and the handle was black leather cord.
She reached for it and unclipped the leather straps which held it down. Pulling it free she stood back straight and held it out from her as she felt the weight and balance of the weapon. She looked at its tang and then flicked the blade satisfactorily.
Looking to Sadalsuud she merely smiled and the merchant roared with a low laugh as he wiped his brow with the cloth and placed his free hand on the side of his belly.
"Tell him this blade is Druchii made." Turning to Sir Jean she smirked, "And that it's worth a small fortune…"
Sir Jean relayed her words and Sadalsuud nodded.
"He says he already knew. If you are satisfied then he asks us to join him for some wine and a real dinner."
Raveres kept cutting the blade through the air as she got used to the feeling of a weapon in her hand again.
"He jokes that after drowning he's sure that you'll appreciate food that has a little more life to it than what the monks could cook."
Raveres smirked and nodded, but didn't look at the merchant or Sir Jean. With a sword in her hand she felt at ease, the worst thing was how now possessing a weapon showed her how poorly she was feeling before. The uncertainty, the helplessness, the lack of confidence…
Everything was halved and she felt a surge of ability in her body. Despite the hobbling that the day's ride had on her frame she was knew that she was not going to screw up again.
She was not going to allow herself to make any blunders in combat like she had before.
Her sword tutor's voice reminded her to stay focused; the sword is part of her arm. It is an extension of her body, and all she need do was remember her drills.
"My armour?"
Sir Jean spoke with Sadalsuud and the merchant pointed to one of his servants.
After the camp was set Raveres was presented with her cuirass, re-strapped in fresh leather clasps, the bullet dent from Annio hammered out, and the metal cleaned and polished. She was genuinely surprised at the speed with which the Human workers operated.
'At the end of this would Sadalsuud be allow me to purchase some of them for my own uses? Gods, that'd be exciting!'
Sadalsuud's travelling tent was a grand construction, and Raveres was surprised that everything in it had come from one of the carts, or from the back of either a horse or camel. It was made of red dyed cloth and its 'floor' was covered in carpets and large plush pillows circled around a fire in the centre of the rounded tent.
The evening passed oddly for Raveres; while Sir Jean and the merchant Sadalsuud spoke with one another and occasionally they'd include her in their conversation the Druchii mainly eyed her food suspiciously. Though she was ravenously hungry she didn't know if she could actually trust the meal.
Now with her wits about her she was beginning to think as a Druchii should, and with Sir Jean's tipping off that there were at least two rogues among the Arabyan's outfit… She didn't know what to expect.
Watching her companions throughout the evening she ate sparingly small bites. Carefully monitoring how she was feeling with every minute. Despite her pulling his ear Jacque felt more enamoured with the she-elf more than before and happily ate his meal while clutching the Abbot's gift under his tabard.
His heart beat faster when he looked at her and in a strange way, he relished the fact she had so aggressively pulled him. It somehow justified his guilt in how he felt towards her.
As they sat and ate, Sadalsuud jovially laughing and entertaining Sir Jean, Jacque pulled the small book that the Abbot had given him from under his clothes. Leaving his food, he meekly turned his attention to the worn and gilded letters of the cover. The large hand written characters read:
'A Study of the Language, Customs, and Nobility of the Wayward Elvish Races: Volume II the Druchii, or Dark-Elf'
Though his literacy was not nearly as competent as Sir Jean, or of the monks, Jacque was able to read and write. He was slow at it, but he could still do it. Peering up at Raveres surreptitiously he began opening the small leather book to its first page.
'There has much been written already of the darkest, black, and brutal Elves known as the Dark-Elves, in their own tongue they differentiate themselves from their High-Elf Asurian cousins by calling their race; 'Druchii' and so for the rest of this volume we shall refer to them using this, more formal, name…'
Jacque reached the end of the paragraph and rubbed his eyes. 'Oh dear… this is not going to be an easy lesson…'
Flipping ahead he came to a phrase table much like what he was hoping to find. The table was on the first page of a chapter titled; 'The Druchii Language' and he looked at the Bretonnian words in the left-hand column, Asurian in the middle, and then Druchii in the right.
A flutter of excitement rose in his chest and he stole a glance upwards at Raveres. She was getting Sir Jean to translate and she had said something which caused Sadalsuud to roar with laughter. The Druchii even managed a smirk and smile. Sir Jean laughed politely but clearly was not as impressed with either the Arabyan or the she-elf's humor.
'Maybe… maybe I could learn just a few things to say to her?' Jacque thought hopefully. 'Bah… it's so much work though! And like… oh I don't know…'
Flipping back to the beginning of the book Jacque began seriously reading the opening pages of the tome.
'Maybe just learning more about them would be good enough? I mean… that's what a knight ought to do, right?' He nodded as he answered himself and buried himself into the dry and dusty pages of the old book.
…
When night fell Sadalsuud invited Raveres to sleep in his tent but she naturally refused. Sir Jean diplomatically translated, reinterpreting and soothing her initial message of:
'I'd rather gouge my own eyes out.' Into something along the lines of 'It'd be inappropriate in my culture to share a tent without someone neutral to assure my honour.'
Sadalsuud reluctantly assented and offered her a small tent of her own beside his and the two Bretonnians. This was welcomed by the she-elf, and she quickly pushed disgusting thoughts of her naked host out of her mind. When she arrived at the small tent Raveres knew that sleep would not be coming easily.
But she began telling herself, 'Just get through the night… that's all, we get through the night and all will be well.'
After inspecting the interior of her tent and satisfactorily finding no snakes, scorpions, or other booby-traps waiting for her she threw her cuirass into the small enclosure and then exited to stand back up.
At first Raveres sat out on the sand in front of her tent for a while, watching the patrolling members of the Arabyan caravan closely with her new sword lying across her lap.
In a short amount of time, she was able to discern that among the guardsmen there were a few that didn't seem to be genuinely patrolling or making rounds of the camp and she immediately knew that they were the ones to watch for.
Beside her tent was Jacque's, and then Sir Jean's and for a while the two Bretons sat outside their respective tents in much the same fashion as her; uneasy to consign themselves to sleep just yet.
The elder Breton had dis-armoured and was cleaning his aged equipment with care. His sword however remained in its sheath, and even after he finished with his vambraces, his tabard, chainmail, greaves, and so on the blade remained undrawn in its' leather.
Occasionally during his cleaning, the knight would try to include Raveres in conversation but she would respond with one word, or non-verbal, answers, grunting and impolitely muttering distractedly. She was in 'defensive' mode, and wholly unpractised at intrigue.
Everything she knew was from being taught, and very rarely first-hand personal experience. Raveres was not yet good enough to be able to make it appear like she was not watching, maintain the façade of conversation, and actually have been watching the whole time.
She could only focus on her own security at the moment and so instead the two Bretons talked among themselves. Jacque sat close to his master but his nose remained in his book. Taking a brief look at the youth Raveres furrowed her brow. She hadn't considered the squire to have been the 'bookish' type, but since he simply appeared with the small codex at dinner the young man has been consumed by it.
Angling himself awkwardly to get enough torchlight to read, the youth was scrunching his nose and furrowing his brow as he squinted at the small characters on each page. Carefully flipping or occasionally 'oohing' and 'ah-ing' in surprise, the older Sir Jean issuing the occasional comment or answer to a question the squire might have had.
When the air began to grow cooler and night was utterly upon them Jacque the squire called in first, quietly shutting his book and rubbing his eyes he stood and left Sir Jean and Raveres to enter into his small tent.
Eventually when the night became blackest and the majority of the camps' torches were put out and its campfires quenched, it seemed that sleep had fallen to the majority of the Humans around her. At first, she was startled to hear the Druhir of Sir Jean but quickly calmed at his words.
"I think I shall make for sleep as well." the old knight stood and exhaled as he stretched his arms, "Tomorrow we have much riding ahead of us. I'd suggest you sleep soon too milady."
With a curt nod she acknowledged the knight's departure. Then, she was alone.
A strange excitement built in her blood as she stood up from her seat on the ground. Wiping the sand from her buttock she then made a show of crawling into her tent.
'If they're going to make a move their two best opportunities would be now, tonight, or tomorrow. Perhaps before we enter the city? Or, no, no perhaps they'll strike in the morning?'
Sitting in her tent she waited and pried her ear towards the tent flap, listening closely to the silence of the camp. But after a few moments, sure enough, she heard distant talking amongst some of the guards. When they moved a litter farther away Raveres then quietly darted out of her tent and crawled into the squire Jacque's.
…
The youth was asleep but at the arrival of someone into the small and intimate quarters of the tent he quickly regained his consciousness and tried for his sword which lay beside him. With a quick darting hand Raveres covered his mouth and watched as the young Human blinked sleep from his eyes and looked up at her with both terror and disbelief.
She slowly removed her hand from his mouth and in the darkness pressed a finger to his lips as she 'shushed' him. The squire furrowed his brow and tried to make sense of it when she then brought her sword into view and then pointed outside the tent. At first Jacque was at a loss, but eventually he deduced what she had meant.
'There's armed men outside! Are they looking for her?' he thought wildly, 'Gah! Surely not?'
He brought up his sword and threw off his sheet. Moving into a crouch the squire tried to see through the flaps of his tent's entrance at the occasional movement outside. He watched closely as he heard whispers and a few hostile exchanges. It sounded like it was getting heated but eventually it died down.
At first, he was energised, ready… but then as time wore on, he began to grow more tired.
'Nothing's happening… gods… just some sleep, come on… leave me Druchii. This is-'
Turning to his right to see Raveres had fallen asleep with her chin in her left hand on her left thigh, while her blade had actually fallen from her right palm and now rested on the floor of the small tent.
'She's… she's actually asleep! R-right here b-beside me?!'
Jacque took a shallow quiet breath and gulped nervously as he felt a burst of excitement and energy. He could barely make out any of her sharp features, and the shape of her body was black in the darkness of the small enclosure. His mind raced and his heart began to beat wildly.
'Oh gods…'
"R-Raveres?" he called meekly.
She didn't stir. Tentatively he moved his left hand towards her and poked the arm holding her chin as he called her name again.
"My lady? Raveres?"
Her left arm moved and the dead weight of her sleeping head lost its careful balance and her body began to slump forwards. Dropping his sword Jacque quickly moved his hands forwards to stop her from falling forwards and out of the tent to the sandy ground.
'Oh gods! W-what do I do? What do I do!?'
Her breathing was steady and he had to move closer towards her to get a better grip on her shoulders. She exhaled what seemed to be a small groan or grunt before a heavy breath but remained limp and unconscious. Carefully Jacque began to lay her backwards.
'Slowly… there, just slow and steady…'
Eventually he laid her down onto the floor of the tent and her head onto his pillow. As he eased her down, he had his hand on the back of her neck. Her skin was slick with sweat and her hair clung to his fingers like evil threads. He looked at his hand grossly in the darkness before curiosity took over and he brought it towards his nose. It wasn't that odourous… but it still smelt.
Swallowing nervously Jacque didn't know what to make of it, or what he had just done. But, He liked it…
Turning to the tent's flaps he began to push the wooden fastening toggles through the thread loop-holes and after drawing the entrance closed, he then turned to see a pair of eyes glinting in the dark.
Even though the flap was closed passing torchlight pierced the material of the tent and made Raveres' eyes shine in the dark.
'She's awake?!' he exclaimed.
Frozen with fear he remained motionless until he heard and saw her rough shape move in the darkness.
'Fuck… gods… just don't move you little shit…'
Jacque remained still until the next pass of the sentry and when the torchlight came through the tent's sides, he saw that Raveres' eyes were closed and she had curled herself onto her left side.
Her chest moved up and down under her blouse rhythmically as she slept. Jacque's heartbeat was so loud it pulsed in his throat and neck. 'You will not get an opportunity like this again you fool! D-do something?!'
Tentatively Jacque began to lean forwards with his hand outstretched towards her. His fingertips brushed her exposed arm and felt her warm, soft, skin in the dark. He shuddered and gulped nervously.
'She's so… soft! Are… are all women like this? Or merely elves?'
He quickly removed his hand from her arm, 'Speaking of elfishness… I…'
Drawing a deep breath, he moved closer to her on his knees and felt through the dark towards her head. Her hair was not in a ponytail and instead fell wildly where ever it desired. Carefully he parted her hair away from her ear and took another gulp before bringing his fingers towards her cartilage.
'She was so… so mean! Why'd you pull the hell out of my ear you… you… g-gorgeous creature…'
Biting his lip and holding his breath Jacque began feeling her long ear. Running his thumb through the top of the strong cartilage he carefully made sure not to apply too much pressure so as to wake her. With a feather-light touch he ran his finger along the inner ridge of her ear until finally he began touching the very tip.
'Why do they have such ears?' he wondered innocently, 'it's so… oh gods… I'm touching her! I'm literally touching her!'
She stirred and took a deeper breath while moving her head somewhat, as if she had felt the touching through her sleep. Letting go of her ear he nodded and exhaled nervously.
'Okay, too much I got it…'
He licked his lips and then doubt began to claw in his mind. 'I… I should stop… I should- this, this is wrong!'
Nodding in agreement he resolved to end it and simply lie down and try to sleep.
'But…'
He gulped.
'I wonder if I could just move her arm.'
Reaching in the bleakness he took hold of her bicep and wrist.
'Is this what l-lovers do? H-has she known… is she…'
Shaking his head Jacque let go of the arm and sit backwards.
'No… I-I can't…'
'Oh, gods damn it! This is bullshit!'
As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could better make out her shape in the pitch black.
'She came to you! She's in your tent!'
Taking a deep breath, he moved forwards and grabbed her arm. Moving her over onto the flat of her back he then planted his arms on either side of her head.
'You've been driving me mad! I… I have to taste your lips again!'
He brought his face down towards hers and shuddered with guilt before stopping.
'N-no…'
He shook his head and began rising away from her, 'I can't bloody do it… Oh by the Lady, give me strength!'
Pushing himself off and away from her he curled up on his sleeping mat and wrapped himself in his sheet. Punching his hand into the material floor of the tent he created a fist shaped divot in the sand underneath.
'Fuck this! She can have the damn pillow! But I'll be damned if I'm letting her have my sheet as well.'
Lying in this arrangement was permissible for Jacque… at first. Eventually he threw off his sheet and turned around to the curled she-elf. Pursing his lips, he pulled his blanket out from under his weight and drew it over the sleeping Raveres.
Groaning under his breath Jacque took up his sword and quietly exited the tent as he shook his head. 'By the Lady…'
Nearly tripping over the sand, he found his way to Raveres' abandoned tent and carefully laid himself down onto her pillows and sheets.
'Obviously Sadalsuud gave her the choicest sleeping arrangements!'
The pillows which had been provided her were fine feather-filled ones, the material plush to the touch and her sheets were thick and soft as well. Trying to relax Jacque moved her breastplate off the bedroll and extended his arms. 'Ha! Oh, these are nice…'
Exhaling a loud breath, the youth smiled to himself,
'Gods… I look forward to and yet fear tomorrow…
…