Quagmire

Chapter 2

*For people new to the world of the raven chronicles, basically they were forced to work together and Xetesk was power hungry, cast evil necromancy, raising undead that kind of stuff. Julatsa being the home of elves like Ilkar who embodied natural magic and not killing of innocent lives. In the final volume Ravensoul, all colleges got destroyed but I wanted them intact for my world here.

Soundtrack- Bon Jovi I'd die for you

Ilkar paced about. I watched him, still keyed up about the outrage of being deprived. I wouldn't compromise on leaving anywhere without my poor dog. How could he even ask that of me?

"I believe, there is still time. Later, I will bring you to the dungeons. Can you remember the way?"

What! "Is there not going to be a delay first?" I protested. "I don't want to go."

"Meaning I'm going to persuade them. To buy time- try to be patient please. I want this to work too," he said, scowling. He motioned for me to sit down. I was surprised that I did. Ilkar headed for a chest near to the other bed and searched inside. He came towards me with a bundle of rope. I recoiled and backed away. "This is better than the manacle chains. I won't do it too tightly."

Reluctantly I closed my eyes, and Ilkar tied my wrists together. The knot didn't feel firm. He fussed with it for a while, part of it extended for pulling me along. "When I tug, look upset and limp. You are hurt badly and hate me, this place. Over there all will watch. We need to rehearse what to say."

He suggested some questions, like what kind of magic I possessed, if anyone else I knew had sorcery, if I would give up my secrets. And I would pretend to be stubborn, never give in. Ilkar became so serious that I forgot if he was my ally or not. Just as I was ready to face it all, the elf loosened my bonds. "Huh?"

He admitted his weakness, having exerted himself too much. "Let's give it a few hours. You can have some freedom. Sleepy." He went to lie down on his cot.

I didn't want to sleep again. My mind was so full. Finally I decided to watch the mage sleeping. Did he sleep lightly? His skin was perfectly smooth unwrinkled. My long fascination with the immortal race unfolded. However, this elf could not have endless stamina.

Softly, I said, "You should conserve… mana. I can do stuff too. To help."

"Umhm like?" Ilkar stirred a little.

"I can make glamours, disguise. That's my key specialty… also I'm a master thief and liar. I've planted a fake object to substitute for missing things." That made me grin.

Ilkar opened an eye and smiled. I had come to stand beside him. He squeezed my hand once. "That is nice. You'd probably need all that skill. Maybe try to get a cell key…"

He drifted.

Then he asked me to lie down too, beside him. "What?" I gaped.

Ilkar sighed. " To be safe, otherwise if they come you'd need to hide again. Don't worry."

I lay down, stiffly. Being this close to a male made me uneasy. His skin felt cool to the touch and I pulled up the blankets. Hm, we didn't smell that good. I turned to face him. As he shivered, I got concerned. Don't get worse please. Rest well. I snuggled closer. It had been ages since I felt this wanted again. Once I had a caring sworn brother. He always felt cold too until I rubbed my hands to make a tiny bit of spark.

I tried it now. No flame, but my palms were warm and I touched to his chest. Ilkar did not awaken.

He did wait for me to rise this time, making no mention about what I did. Instead he reminded me what to do and I agreed. Except I longed to be clean again. He was sympathetic but I would look too clean. So I just did some splashing.

"You can bathe more when we finish this act."

He lugged me to my cell. I stumbled along. When we were alone, Ilkar did not look cruel, but his voice was fierce. Extremely so! People watched curiously. I hoped our act worked. "Bitch when will you give an answer? Can't escape!"

He pushed me to the ground. I knelt, glaring up at him. I spat. "Never, I'd rather die!" Guards laughed. Angered, the elf snapped the rope.

"Brave words. Death will come but not this day!" he snarled. His pointed ears shifted subtlely. It struck me how excellent a play would be if we staged this! I almost smiled. Hurriedly, I had to be downcast when some people approached.

"Ah sire, we can take over this bitch. Don't bother yourself."

My goosebumps crawled. The scum's tone was suggestive. Please please no! Ilkar said coldly, "No I want her for myself. It gives me pleasure. Soon all the rest will cave in. I am Very persuasive. Are you questioning my rank soldier?"

They murmured some things. Ilkar laughed evilly. Phew. Nobody should notice my face wounds had been healed. Then Ilkar jerked the rope less taut, when he did so, was a cue. I looked up and got slapped. My face went to the side. It didn't smart much as he was wearing gloves, enchanted ones.

I swallowed. That wasn't in the agreement. Peeking from under my hair I noticed some movement. They were still hovering there. "We don't doubt it, Sire. Hit the other prisoners. They won't speak."

"Of course." A long pause. When they left, Ilkar closed his eyes like he wanted to swoon. I trembled. "Stand up!" I obeyed and lightly he touched his temple and then to mine. I have to go with them. Make the rounds, try to see if you can steal the keys. The person with the red shirt, seen him? Now we can communicate like this. It's too dangerous to whisper. Sorry.

I had noted all the positions and so on.

I tested my own voice: Don't be. I get it, good acting. What else?

Find out where your stuff are… may be the locket. I cannot promise. Very important to wait for me. Many entrances are guarded.He answered, stepping back. His face was a mask of ice. I noticed someone behind with a tray. "Food for the prisoners."

I pretended to cry. Ilkar banged the celldoor shut. After the food was delivered, footsteps dying off, I looked in the straw. In a fraction of a moment, the elf mage had scraped the straw with a boot, this spot! Hmm, … a lockpick. Yes! Just now he had slipped a hand into his pocket. I kept it.

Hm but the key was still around my neck.

I stayed close to the bars, not touching the food. Some prisoners moaned. Ilkar was yelling and cursing. Then whipcracks. Ouch! He could bear to hit people? I watched for the red guard. Needed to wait till he got sleepy. Once he stood with his backside to me, and I almost snagged it. Damn! I knelt again, listening carefully to footsteps. I tried to summon my pet to me. He'd come in handy. But there was nothing.

Briefly my celldoor slid open, the man came with medicine. I knew the dirty trick of the prisonguards, if people took the drug, thinking it would quench their thirst, they got bespelled. I poured it away.

I had almost dozed off from waiting. The celldoor rattled. Ilkar had come back! I concealed my big grin.

"Ready to talk? Where did you find the beast?" he demanded, folding his arms.

"From the streets, he's not magic!" I replied loudly. He nodded. The guard gave him some keys. Cool! "
"Now I will bring you to other quarters," the elf snapped. He unlocked my jail cell. I slowly got up and we continued down the rest of the dungeons, stairs. Lots of pictures on the walls.

Why are we, um moving? I'm glad anyway.

He did not respond, hand clamped on my shoulder. The place was part of servants' quarters, so not many people blocked or asked where we were going. I could relax. He only spoke when we turned a corner. "I said I need you alive, you'd be dying. No more source for the master." He heaved a big sigh.

We entered a room. Closing the door, Ilkar untied me. Appearing to have run several miles, he seemed fatigued and his hand was clammy. "Are you ill?"

I tried to be calm and detached. We both collapsed onto chairs. I couldn't wait to take a bath. When I came out, with simple clothing, Ilkar rubbed his arm.

"No. Everytime the warlords increase their influence, tattoo hurts more. Also all that shouting is hard." Yea his voice was husky now. more colorful words under a whisper.

"Didn't realize you are so foulmouthed, elves are refined." I mused

He glared. I did get worried if he'd strike me. Then he chuckled. "Well I'm not like other elves. Those must be the nobles. I'm a mercenary, kind of gangster and I don't need to be refined. " Ilkar declared in a roguish way. He took his turn in the bath.

My heart warmed to him, why? We had just been together for only a night or two. I busied myself observing the sparse furnishings here. At least there were more beds here, with some curtains for privacy, a fireplace on the left, small table with some chairs, stools and a window! I was too short, so I grabbed a stool to balance. The white-blue sky, if I turned my head, dots of trees in a garden, dots of people and gray suited guards patrolling the next building. Ah.

I sensed Ilkar behind me, because his slim fingers touched my back. "Careful, Felicia." His voice was like honey, though still husky. I nodded.

"Hey there're other towers too? Damn huge place this," I said when I was more comfortable. I turned around and hopped down. He was eating from a packet of dried food.

"Umhm, it is called Aranos Castle and there are vastly huge towers. I'm not sure, maybe eight of them."

"How much have you discovered?" I studied his elegant brows, the silky black of his wet hair and the little pointed ears. The portraits always showed them with very long ears. Ilkar could be gallivanting out there, kicking ass. Yet he wanted to save people, why?

"Not much, he gave me a tour of his domain, which is this tower only. Some levels need special permission. Are you going to be rash, Felicia?"

His brows drew together.

"No no I'm just wondering. You could simply waltz out of here free as a bird," I said, with newfound respect. But I didn't admit it aloud.

"Not a chance. Tell me, is that really your name? Thieves don't really give much away." He gestured I take a seat. Pointing to the mug, he shook his head gently and handed me a waterskin bottle. Ok, I got it. Maybe poisoned. I drank from it. A question of trust… actually I had no name. I lost my real name when mother gave me the locket, made me swear to keep it. So lost, and burning…. "Are you all right? You look dazed."

Hazel eyes glittered. I said, "Yea, for now. I don't know my real name. Awhile back, they called me Keelia and then Jodie. I mean people at each of the places I moved to. I lost my memory."

Ilkar opened his mouth, a wistful expression overcame him. But he did not speak, nodding gently. "Don't be sorry for me. I do have some friends, if they hadn't betrayed me. Yet. Haha." My laugh proved that I didn't mind, really! Why mourn something I lost or had nothing of?

Ilkar said Keelia was nice. "What a truly beautiful name, meaning Tree shepherd. Have you always liked the Elf race?" He seemed excited and sat straighter. Youthfulness energized him. "I'd be elated to find a common point."

"Yes I do. In fact I wanted to join a group of them for a nice dance- performance. They had gold hair and funny colored eyes though. Different group from you? But the leader disliked me immediately. I didn't take their things."

He answered, "Yes in my clan we have dark hair and golden eyes. I believe you. That must have hurt."

I swallowed. "Maybe I look strange. Do I look awful?" I could not find a glass to look at.

"I see. Keelia you are fine, golden skinned, unique colored eyes, blue, gold at once, and brown hair. Real character comes from within." He rose to stretch, drawing some patterns in the air. Signs in different shapes floated. I understood, but handsome mages had it easier in life.

"What are you doing?"

"Practising. It doesn't hurt when I do minor spells. But I have to cast stronger spells like make them listen to me." My turn to pity him. And he hoped I still liked elves.

Indeed, the guards demurred and agreed when he shouted at them. Ilkar combed his hair with his fingers, pacing to the fireplace.

"Any antidote to take it off? Any book or scroll?"

"Perhaps a scroll, nobody has managed to remove this mark before. With you, maybe I have a better chance." Ilkar's tone got cheerful, and I beamed a little. It felt awesome to be a part of things! "This was not his room, on another day I want to find a more private one." We would be able to talk easier as the walls in the other chambers would be thicker.

"I assume by using that trick again? Now who's rash." I folded my arms.

He smiled. "I am pretty sure I am not being rash. I'll stick to calling you Felicia the witch okay? Then it'd be more convincing."

I made a face. "Yea fine. You bastard!" This time we both shared a laugh. Feeling shy, I made some eye contact when he glanced at me. "Thank you. Didn't think I might survive."

"Welcome. Um, is there any chance you can aid me, a little? I couldn't access the higher vaults of archives. There is some kind of pass, I can't get hold of it." Listening, I added the pieces together, Ilkar needed to go find more information about curses and maybe about Serif. The elf was waiting, almost crushing the chair back with white knuckles.

"Leave it to me. Turning invisible will be useful. I know a few small tricks….. I can't really maintain one for long," I said.

Ilkar smiled.

Over the next few days, we recuperated. He explained and demonstrated a skill known as Cloakwalk, an invisible glamour that would last a few minutes. I tried it and simply winked back. Before, I could make this work only for very short periods. Mostly I depended on sheer luck and agility.

"Come, let me feel the mana you have." He touched my forehead and focused. "You should be able to do this." Also Ilkar imparted a stun-spell to distract and stop pursuers and a sprinter's magic. He had a book with pictures and I memorized them by heart. I liked the part when the elf projected the knowledge of the shapes and spells because he held my hands.

I said I would succeed. "One question.. why do you have a Familiar? The animal- not by chance. Unless, it's from Xetesk." Later I would understand why this bothered him a lot and he did not call them friends. He sounded wary and cold.

"Um I dunno where or what that is. I don't know, one day suddenly this big animal jumped out to fight with bullies. I was so scared, and I didn't say anything. He killed everybody… and then we were alone."

He weighed my response, blinking slowly. "He told you his name is Serif?"

I rubbed my chin. Memories got foggy. "I think I call him that. No he didn't talk to me. I left quickly but found a small dog following me. I didn't know he could change shape, only much much later I put two and two together. What's wrong with this… familiar?"

The elf moved to look outside. I was miffed, why did it matter how many pets I had?

"That is strange, the experience I had with one- he talked like a person. His voice was raspy and they were very connected, closely linked. I don't like the very making of such creatures. Because Xetesk and Julatsa are opposites," Ilkar's tone was strong and non compromising.

"Serif is not a creature. I didn't make him, he just popped out. He's my companion!" I argued. Julatsa, another place? I didn't have anything to do with that.

The mage went into a very long silence. I sat in my bed and pulled the curtains to separate us. Finally Ilkar spoke, "Perhaps this could be different. I am from Julatsa, and our morals are very different from Xetesk. We don't own Familiars and practice dark magic. That came out wrong."

I was still angry. It was only after a while that I looked at the table where he had been at and Ilkar was tying and retying the rope. Then he packed some things up.

So if I am from Xetesk you'd condemn me? I Sent deliberately. I didn't know for sure if the telepathy thing could work. "Felicia, I will be taking you to the new quarters."

"When?" I asked curtly. The elf said it would be soon, ignoring my rudeness.

I knew he felt concerned about the matter when he said, "I have little inkling how close your bond is with Serif. I meant this is difficult to understand, for me. All right?" He touched my shoulder.

I remained silent. He asked me again to describe my pet's appearance. "Small dog, brown and black patches here." I indicated where on his body. Ilkar then did the rope tie. This time it was looser and I could slip one wrist out. Then I could reach to nick items. Again we discussed what I should thieve, and I could tell he was very concerned for me.

"I hope you meant what you said, Ilkar, about trust." I stared at him fixatedly.

"I meant every word. Just hope we succeed." He blew out his cheeks.

Leaving these quarters, he led me to another part of this castle tower, climbing a short flight of steps. More guards barked orders and we were stopped. "What, is that your business? One word, and I burn you where you stand. Let me pass now," he retorted indignantly.

Chill chill I begged silently. Those were minor guards. Everytime a shadow crossed to examine me, as if I were a toy, I held my breath. To the higher ranking officers, Ilkar deflected them with a crisp tone, "I need a quiet place to hear what some of them are saying. They're too weak, can't get a proper answer that way. I know what I'm doing."

Some were tougher to deter and I heard Ilkar swear, produce some heat on his hand. Then they got worried and cleared the way. This castlewing was more heavily fortified too.

At last, he exclaimed when we turned to a red carpeted passage way, lovely oak doors. On this level, one wall was open to the fresh air outside and had a railing.

The fourth room on the right. He unlocked the room, very luxurious! The windows were rose tinted, and many chairs with cushions surrounded a long table. Books of many colors were slotted on the high shelves. Robes of the finest quality hung on a few racks.

I heard a gasp behind me. Ilkar pressed a hand to his forehead, swaying on his feet. I supported him. I had not seen him eat, maybe he was weak from lack of nutrition. The guy was really thin. I helped him to a chair and he pressed a fist to his forehead, eyes closed.

"Here, eat something." I produced the stolen stuff- dried cheese, breads, apples, keys. Somehow they all fit into my shirt and pants. I knew a dress was impractical at most. Ilkar smiled faintly and refueled. I smiled too.

"Would help to gain some weight, elf. Can't have a swooning mage," I joked.

He nodded. I sniffed at a jug that had been left on the table. "I wish. Elves aren't exactly fat. That's safe to drink. I checked. I'm thirsty."

I filled the tankards. "Um I don't know how the hall passes look, so far. I'll sneak out again later. They seem more- suspicious. You had to cast more times?"

"Yes. Well, when I speak to them I bind their will to comply with me. Some are harder to persuade and it's more difficult to coerce them. Causes fatigue. The people with stripes tend to be difficult, here and here." He touched his chest and shoulder. Yes those people posed problems.

"Can I learn that skill? Is it possible?" The elf seemed recovered and did not support his head with his arm. He paused.

"I would like to, but it is on a higher level. I took more than ten years to muster the energy for Persuasion and Coercion. It could prove dangerous when people realize that they are being tricked. Thank you." He gestured to what I had nicked.

"Hm as I said, don't want anybody to collapse on me. Troublesome." I checked out the robes, too long. Instead I picked a servant's garb. I took my time to hide my hot face, any compliments made me that way. Argh! "Feel better?"

The elf chuckled. "Hm reminds me of good old times. I'm still tired, and better in some ways." I didn't answer until I had finished changing, at the other corner of the room. He had closed his eyes.

"Ilkar, are you young?" I wondered.

"Not very. We live a long time." This time I felt inquisitive. Maybe that explained his bitterness with the other country and stuff.

"So, Julatsa is your country? If we can talk about it…" Getting warmed up, I sat on the bed near to him.

"It has been my home for years. It's known as a College city. A lot of things need to be simplified for you. Mainly I learnt how to be a mage there, and any elves go to… study." Ilkar smiled, that I wanted to know more. I did see some points, maybe college meant a kind of school. Ah!

"Um then the other one is also one? And you fight?"

"Oh no, we don't wage fights. It's just the—ideals, the way we think is not the same. The others are Dordover and Lystern. Mainly we cast magic, study, some become archers. There are humans too. Do you follow?"

"Yep now I get it. Because you were upset." I pointed out. "And don't have animals in Julatsa?"

"Hm, no Familiars or pets. The way we do magic is elemental which means earth, fire, air. Most of my people aspire to be warriors, then they join the temples. Some of them become one with the animals. I was concerned, not upset." Ilkar had a tone of not-for-me when he raised the point of one with the animals.

"Haha, ok. I think I would like to visit someday. And see the 'one with animals' process. What is it like? They summon them?" Because it was a high possibility I could find a connection with that!

He beamed. "Ah, I'm not sure. I didn't observe them long enough. Yes, when we get out, we'll go visit, my friend. Because you worry about the dog?"

"Oh. I am not sure if Serif is that word, he is a companion to me. I was in danger and he saved me. That demon thing- I don't think they're same. Yes. He didn't answer me." (I forgot those difficult words easily)

The elf frowned. "Not even a sign or a sensation? Damn."

I laid my hand on his shoulder, he was tense and going to rush off. "It's alright. He is not in pain. You need rest. Go and lie down."

The mage's argument that he could still move made me chuckle. I detected a note of genuine sincerity in his voice.

"I can find a way to get you to the archives… How do the hall passes look like?" I moved on.