Ch. 5
Emmy's stomach threatened to expel what was left of her dinner as she stepped out of the white cloud. She gagged as bile forced its way up to her mouth, and only Leilita's firm grip on her arm kept her from doubling over and complying with her stomach's wishes.
Leilita smiled when she heard Emmy gag. First-timers always get upset stomaches, she thought to herself.
Emmy looked around her in awe as her captor steered her through the war camp they had arrived at. Tents were staked out in rows as far as she could see; directly ahead of her a busy blacksmith's workshop was crowded in among other forges, all of them producing weaponry or armor. Barrels of spears sat next to a large, open-air pavilion where five elves stood around a table.
Leilita led Emmy past the pavilion to a large, central tent. Two elves, armed with sabers, throwing knives, and a bow and arrow set each, stood guard outside the tent opening. They snapped to attention as Leilita passed them, saluted, then returned to their positions once Leilita and Emmy entered the confines of the tent. "Kvetina," Leilita said with a nod to a female elf sitting on a wooden stool. Kvetina returned the nod. "Welcome back, Lieutenant."
Leilita continued forward, dragging Emmy with her. "Ow! Let go of my arm!" Emmy complained as Leilita pulled her into another room in the tent. Leilita ignored her and continued forward until she stood in front of an elegantly carved throne.
"Siveya," Leilita said respectfully and bowed low to the elf sitting on the throne.
"Leilita," Siveya replied lovingly. "It's good to have you back."
"It is good to be back, Mother."
"Who is this?" Siveya asked, motioning toward Emmy.
"This," Leilita said as she pulled Emmy forward, "is the girl who moved into the Collins' house. She has the Sight," Leilita added as she let go of Emmy's arm, no longer feeling the need to keep her constrained.
"The Collins' house? Any relation to Cecil and Marie Collins, girl?" Siveya asked Emmy, her gaze riveted on the girl.
Emmy looked at Siveya with unease. Say 'no,' a voice inside Emmy's head whispered. What? Emmy thought in surprise.
"I'm waiting," Siveya said impatiently.
"N-no, I don't have any relation to the Collins," Emmy replied, her voice shaking as she did so.
"Hm."
Emmy held her breath, praying that they wouldn't see through her lie. She watched as Siveya inspected her from the throne, and could barely keep from trembling when Siveya motioned her to the throne.
"I can tell you're lying to me," Siveya whispered in Emmy's ear, "but for the sake of your life I will say nothing." Emmy stared at the elf with surprise and confusion, not quite sure if she believed this strange person who had an air of power about her.
Leilita watched all this with increasing suspicion. "What should I do with her, Mother?" Leilita asked, watching Siveya carefully.
"Do what you want."
Emmy sat in her small one-man tent, reflecting on the events of the past few days. Man, I bet Aunt Marie and Uncle Cecil are wondering where I am. They're probably going crazy with worry, she thought regretfully. I should have never snuck out. I am essentially a prisoner now, with no idea why, or what 'the Sight' is. Never mind, I AM a prisoner, no 'essentially' about it.
You are right, you shouldn't have snuck out.
"What?" Emmy looked around her for the source of the voice before remembering there was no one except her in the tent. "Where are you, and who are you?"
I'm your uncle, Emmy. Uncle Cecil. I knew you would eventually sneak out to the forest, so I established a mind link between us when we arrived in McKee.
"What-"
Think what you want to say and I'll 'hear' it, Cecil said hurriedly. Now, listen to me. Trust Siveya; she is your only friend in that camp you're in. She will watch out for you and protect you from her daughter, Leilita. Leilita sees every other species as inferior to the Night Elves and has launched a campaign to bring every other creature in the forest and the surrounding areas under Night Elf control, including the humans on the edges of the forest.
Emmy, it is imperative that you escape. You are one of the missing links to her campaign; you have the Sight, the ability to see the future and the present. You could provide her with information vital to her success: weak points in the defenses of the other forest dwellers' colonies, the locations of human towns, including McKee, along the border, etc.
Uncle, Emmy interrupted, why should I trust anybody in this camp? For all I know, they could all be on Leilita's payroll, even Siveya. I agree that Leilita is bad, possibly even evil, but what about the others?
Cecil sighed. Trust me, Emmy. I know more about the affairs of the forest denizens than you do, and I know that right now, Siveya is your only friend, aside from Marie and myself.
Aunt Marie has freaky mind powers too? Jeez, Uncle! Why didn't you tell me this?
Because you would have looked at me like I was a freak and wouldn't have trusted me when you needed to, Cecil stated.
Mm...I just had a thought, Uncle. If we can hear each other, what about others? Can others listen in on our conversations?
Only if you allow them to, Cecil reassured her. I'll teach you how later; for now, let me contact you. Now-
Someone's here! The tent flap opened, and Emmy was temporarily blinded by light from the setting sun. The silhouette of a woman entered the tent, closed the flap, sat down next to Emmy and whispered, "Don't make a sound. Siveya sent me to tell you to be ready to escape before moon rise." The woman handed Emmy a black nightingale pin. "Keep this hidden. Someone will contact you when it is time; they'll show you a replica of this pin. When they do, be ready to run."
The woman left, leaving Emmy alone again. Emmy inspected the pin she had been given, but due to the low light was unable to make out any of the details. She turned the pin over in her hands, her fingers telling her what her eyes couldn't. Grooves were etched into the pin, outlining wing feathers, the eyes and beak, and the intricate details of the tail and feet.
...What did the woman give you, Emmy? Cecil asked, his voice neutral.
She gave me a pin. A black nightingale pin with extremely intricate details.
That pin is Siveya's personal seal; that she gave it to you freely is unheard of. I suspect she aims to gain your trust by helping you escape. Did the messenger say who would show you the pin's twin?
No. She just said that someone would show me a replica of this pin and that when they did, I should be ready to run.
Hm... Cecil was quiet as he examined the situation. Trust Siveya. Right now, she is your best chance of surviving.
Ok, so I should wait until I'm contacted?
Yes.
Leilita sat in her tent, reflecting on her mother's strange actions, and, more importantly, Emmy's lack of reaction to whatever Siveya had whispered. Something is not right. The Seer should have quaked with fear, or backed away, or done something instead of standing there.
Two of Leilita's personal guard entered the tent then, dragging a struggling servant between them. "Milady, we saw Tana enter and exit the Seer's tent," one reported as they threw the woman on the ground before the elven princess.
Leilita focused her gaze on Siveya's servant. Tana stared back at Leilita, her face set in defiance. "Let me go, Leilita. You have no right to do this."
"Really? I believe I do," Leilita replied coolly. "The girl is my property. I have the authority to question anyone when it concerns the Seer. Now, what do you know of my mother's plans concerning the girl?"
Tana stared at the floor, refusing to reply. Leilita reached out and grabbed Tana's hair and pulled, forcing her to stand, smiling cruelly as a whimper escaped Tana's lips. "What are my mother's plans for the girl?" she asked in a sweet, mocking voice. "From your refusal to speak, I know you have something to do with my mother and the Seer. You might as well make it easier on yourself and tell me what you know."
Tana remained silent, watching as Leilita's smile turned to a grimace at her continued refusal to speak.
"Fine," Leilita spat. "We'll do this the hard way. Hold her," she commanded her guards as she turned to a table holding a vial of clear liquid. Leilita retrieved the vial, drew a dagger from its place on her hip, and turned back to her captive. "I gave you a chance," Leilita said.
Tana tensed when she saw the vial and dagger in Leilita's hands. She struggled as the elf came closer, but to no avail; Leilita's guards held her fast. "Please, Lieutenant, don't do this," Tana pleaded as the dagger came closer to her skin. "I don't know anything except what I was told to tell the girl."
Leilita paused. "And that would be...?"
Tana told Leilita how the queen had given her to take a message to Emmy. "I swear, I don't know anything," Tana added after she finished.
"Mother," Leilita spat. "Of course! I should have known she would want the girl to escape. She's been against my campaign from the beginning. Well. The Seer won't escape so easily. By the way, what is her name?"
"Emmy," Tana whispered, thankful that she was still alive.
"Emmy..." The name matches her, Leilita thought. She turned to her guards. "Wait until moonrise, then bring her to me," she commanded. "I'll get my mother," Leilita added darkly. "She should not have interfered."