Chap 5 Fragile Alliance (edit Jun .14)

Jackie Cheung Can't forget you

Having caught wind of bad news: those tyrants were returning earlier than expected, Flo had delivered the message. Immediately it put Ilkar in a foul mood of cursing and swearing. Last night, he had been empathetic and refined especially when he read to me… now was a different side. I had already half- awoken to his boots stamping and the heat of his voice.

"I'm sorry Ilks. What shall I do then?" she was replying. Ah his nickname, so cute.

"Gods drowning, dammit. My plans ruined. Plus I need to find out who the other person is. It's crucial, I have to. So much to do! Can you help me?" he said in a demanding way.

Flo murmured something. The elf became quiet again.. Who was the other person? Ah, maybe he didn't mean to rescue me… he didn't have to. "I have only half the map. Yes. I will. You too be careful." His volume dropped to normal but still rich with worry.

She responded like a mother, "Can't the red mark be taken off? In the other side, they use collars. Bastards. One plan at a time, Son. I'd best be going now." I stifled a laugh- how can she call him that?

He laughed mirthlessly. "Okay okay, mdm. I will calm down. Try to leave with us too, Flo. Thank you." When he shut the door, I intended to go back to sleep. "Hey you heard us? My voice wasn't soft."

Rolling over, I asked, "Who is the other person, elf? I thought I'm the rescuee." Ilkar was standing with his back to me, and acted as if he had not heard me. So I washed up and came to the breakfast table. My friend absently sat down but did not touch his food. He seemed to be looking at something beyond me. "If they return earlier, I will have to smuggle you out first, then find a way to get your things. And I am not sure if it's safe to tell you this. I need to rescue another person. That was my original mission."

I nodded. "Yea, go on."

He frowned. "You don't mind?"

"Nope, why would I? I'm ready to help."

"I see. This person is a- fighter, he can be a strong ally. He is highly skilled. Trouble is I don't know who he is, it was my vow to someone who died. The trail went cold. I shouldn't take on so much." His golden eyes were rimmed with worry.

"Don't give up. It's possible. Well, I wouldn't expect less of a Julatsan mage."

"What an insult. You're right."

He smiled and said we ought to get ready to find the artifact room.

Before I went with him, I changed into an apprentice robe and glamored myself to look like an ordinary person. I enjoyed his astonishment.

Ilkar would sense where the magic was. Many identical rooms later, and stairs, the mage closed his eyes. One hand spread, the elf seemed to fumble on an invisible surface. Sweat slicked his face. I prepared to support him. An ordinary door set inside the wall to the side.

"They are here. Be alert. Stand back." Ilkar sounded distant. He took a deep breath and murmured a string of words rapidly. I kept an eye on the path behind us. What about the key? Instead of exerting himself, we could use that. The lock vibrated and then turned in both directions. He seemed to have substituted a key inside.

Fortunate, nobody came.

"Come, we're in," He gasped, sagging against the wall. The huge room made it difficult to start.

I hesitated. "Can you manage?" His face had gone a ghostly pallor right to his lips.

He sighed, eyes closed and both hands to his temples. "Quickly, before they come. You will need to hit them, I'm flat."

I nodded.

Searching all the boxes, chests, trunks and things, I couldn't find any sort of pendants. Ah there were other boxes on the mantelpieces too, little ones. "Next time let me. Hadn't tried the key." I said while climbing up to get at the top ones. No luck..

I hoped I could find it. The locket did glow sometimes. I fixated its white ivory color in my mind and focused. Something hit and bounced.

"Come to me!" I said. To my shock a purple box shot into my arms. I undid its clasp.

There it lay, in the shape of a heart and pulsed. I took it out and slipped into my pocket. "Great, one task done," he remarked, now standing. His skin had returned to normal again.

"Thank you. I'll repay you," I said emotionally. The elf chuckled. We left the place smoothly and I insisted I would do my own magic, by making it look untouched.

I waved my hands. Return to state.

He was impressed! Haha. "No the key can't fit. It's for the main doors. A bit too late."

We laid low after breaking in there. Flo had found some servants willing to help, but only she came to give messages.

"How soon would the people be back?" I asked when he came back from the archives and interrogation. I needed to stay undetected and indoors. Ilkar still went on those duties to fulfil their bargain. His moods were unpredictable. It was easier to pretend I didn't care.

He would teach me everything simple he knew and I had to learn fast. I worked on the invisibility spell. Since he could not exert too much, I relied on verbal instructions. Ilkar was an excellent teacher. Sometimes he forgot about the gravity of our life, proving a patient and steadfast friend. My respect and concern grew, unable to be suppressed.

Levitation, bright light stunspell, a repertoire of defences, how to use a dagger. I couldn't manage a sword yet. I could toss knives and daggers competently from my circus days.

One night I managed to find a set of gleaming daggers from a weapons room. He noticed with surprise as I plucked them off the wall to try again. I showed him my juggling prowess. Ilkar smiled, so rare a gesture.

Since I had plenty of manaforce, to cast, I wanted to try soothing pain. "Let me heal you. Please." Ilkar's mark hurt a lot one day and he didn't complain but he was less talkative. We were discussing about healing spells. Those were the most important fundamentals in a person casting. I created a green glow tinged with blue.

"Oh. This is more for flesh wounds. I tried it before." His voice was really soft, a sign of his wish to decline and felt shy.

I concentrated,my head feeling light. His hand was slightly swollen. The mark faded, my eyes were still open. It did seem fine, until he gasped, because the cursemark came back.

"Sorry!" I had let go- a force from the mark seemed to repel me. "Are you ok?"

He shook his head. "It won't work. Warmheal is for fleshwounds. A little less pain now. Thanks." He flexed the hand.

I vowed to practice more. "The improvement is there, you have more focus."

"Cool. So what other basic stuff is there? I want to learn… more. Do you know any- skills from (I paused) er…. Dordover?"

"Actually a lot of Casting and mana methods are similar. They do have extensive depth into the ones I know. I forgot them though. I have a friend who's from there too."

"Okay. But what about the other one?"

I watched if he'd get mad. Nowadays I hinted about X, on the dark magic stuff. It sounded so intriguing. Elf ignored that and changed the subject. He remained pleasant. Unable to get a comment on that subject, I left it.

If Ilkar was affected by the Curse, I would have to go on alone to complete the mission. I prayed not. If he had little inkling who it should be, I would be lost too. Maybe we could ask the man on the bridge. Ilkar's optimism faded.

"Okay. But I won't let anything happen to you." He would use a blunted tip sword to propel me forward. I watched him sheath the blade.

The elf didn't look at me. "I'm not that important now. I came fully understanding what will happen. I have no regrets." I thought his voice wavered slightly. Did he really mean it? If only I could reassure him!

Then there was no time for pondering that. We walked across the same bridge. The guards there nodded seeing that swordtip was at my back and I was tied. Goosebumps shivered when the door to the other side loomed. Then loudly a man demanded, "Hey you two. Sire, she has to cross there why?"

I turned. It had been so fast, that Ilkar had delivered a punch to him. Wow I gaped. The mage shook his hand. "What if they come?"

"Felt like doing that. He does appear sleeping." One boot nudged the man and the guy opened his mouth. Now he took my arm and we upped the pace. Would his arm hurt?

Nothing happened, Ilkar didn't collapse nor suffer pain. He produced the special key and tried in the door. It opened!

We ascended the steps. "Yes we did it!" I whispered hugging him. The elf's golden-hazel eyes shone. But knowing that my ally may not be able to attain the same freedom as I could, dampened my spirits a little. Many warriors marched up and down here, compared to our side. The positive side of this was they minded their own business. Waiting till we were out of earshot, "So do we return to your…place when we find him?" I asked.

The Julatsan considered. "It will work better if we find a temporary place here. I don't like crossing the bridge too often. Leave that part to you."

"I won't fail." We split up, agreeing to meet back at a crooked statue on a particular level with dirty blue curtains. The others had red curtains. We would speak via the Rings. If I found the target person, I should question him on his identity and this side of the castle. I worried it might be wrong, because Ilkar's friend had died before giving much detail. We just knew he owned double swords.

I asked my pendant, can you help my friend? I don't want him to be left behind,he has done so much for me.

No answer yet. Checking all the rooms and listening, observing, I noticed one common point, everyone had metallic collars meanwhile I would also need to seek out a room not in use by other people, and also by ghosts. I thought of that possibility, having stayed in the interrogation rooms cold presences could be felt. Picking a lock, I decided to survey a spacious study room.

Touching the Ring, I focused. Ilkar found anyone yet?

No luck. Some people may have seen him. I c ame downstairs, which floor are you on?

Maybe he went outside… I see. Um, about halfway up, forgot the level.Standing on the steps I looked out at the opening. Very high up, people are small.

Ilkar chuckled, I could picture him. I can't see where I am. Dark... Next floor is noisy like many monsters. Be careful. I waited. Maybe Ilkar was preoccupied.

The next best course of action would be to speak to the dark man we had seen earlier. While I was hiding behind a pillar, wondering if I could steal something useful, I spotted the man! He was the only one with white hair, like an old person? "Wait!" I called. He turned to look at me, black skin and sharp features, muscular, wearing swords on his belt.

"I- I am lost." I said at last. Ah he is not old.

He had strange eyes as well, I think the right term should be purple, or lavender. At that time I thought it was special blue. "You… are new here?" he asked in a deep voice, accent different from Ilkar's, who was educated.

"No I have not come before." I followed him to a well furnished room, luxurious curtains, food in many dishes, wines, silver cutlery. I sent to my friend that I had found the person.

Now he replied, Good,good found him! Ask if he knew Catalan, does he have two magical swords? He is the only one who carries two. If anyone looks dangerous, Don't confront them directly.

Yes. Then while my friend came up with verifying questions, I asked the warrior. He said yes and the descriptions fitted. He had astute observation in his features, quite elfin. No one would overhear us, he said and he introduced himself as Drizzt do'urden. Honestly, Drizzt said he was a drow. I supposed it was his color? I withheld this from my friend first. "It is safe here? I cannot be found out." I looked behind every nook and cranny. Feeling stimulated, I was upgrading to another level of stealth! I noted the places I could hide, the boxes and the bed.

"Nobody notices. As long as we don't draw attention, they care only for wealth and freetime. Do you feel hungry?" Drizzt asked me to eat my fill.

While eating, I related our side of things and the plans.

Then the Julatsan grumbled-what's taking so long? I'm here already. He was yelling through the link.

Sorry explaining to Drizzt. You can come up, the ring connects us.

I winced at his temper. If people were always mad, I was accustomed to that but not Ilkar whose moods became tumultuous.

No! I don't want to draw attention. Fine, then get him to come later. Ilkar sounded exasperated.

I felt bad. Drizzt listened. "I saw you getting hurt on the bridge. That night. There is my friend a mage. He can help us. Catalan asked him to get someone out, I have a strong sense, person is you. I hope I'm not wrong."

He clasped my hand. "Yes. I have seen the mage. From the questions I dare say I am the right person."

I said my name. "He wants me to go meet him now. Come later…." I told him the place and then snuck out.

People were engrossed in their own business. The moment I saw Ilkar, he didn't look angry, I had mistaken that. He was pacing and when I closed the distance his hazel eyes were full of emotion. His grip on my shoulders was hard and then I was embraced. My breath left me.

"I thought you were held!" he hissed in exasperation.

"No I'm fine." I wanted to add that I was touched he cared but my throat closed up. The shadows moved, and Drizzt appeared. I said hi. Ilkar moved in front of me protectively. His tone was brisk. "You are the assassin Catalan told me about. Can we trust you?"

I turned to be on the lookout for any loiterers.

"Yes. I saw you once on the bridge! I wanted to talk to you but this prevented me. It restricts me." The drow said, coughing a little.

Ilkar weighed this and he stepped a bit closer. "I'm Ilkar, a mage. Perhaps I can try to help, but not now. I am out of mana… is there any control to this?" Then he tapped me. Time to go to the temporary room. I led the way and inside, we got started more on the introduction. "I didn't expect you to look…."

Drizzt nodded seeming sad. "Yes. I am a dark elf. But I don't behave like my kin."

Ilkar was quiet. We were sitting facing the dark elf. He replied, "I don't mean to insult you. I just felt startled."

"Yes. Felicia what do you think?" Drizzt watched me in a resigned manner. My locket warmed. I glanced at Ilkar and nodded.

"He is not a bad person. We just have to help each other and get that collar off right?" I commented. Ilkar sat back.

"Wait what about Guen? I have to get her back. My panther."

The mage scowled. I almost burst out laughing, his downturned slant of brows and sulk right about killed me. "Don't tell me- another pet? Argh." He stood up pacing. I asked him to calm down.

In equal dignity, the dark elf said, "No she's not a pet! Guen is my companion and her figurine is rightfully mine. They took her but I know not where. She is from the Astral Plain."

Ilkar's grumbling was murmured, but I could hear some of it. "Why can't people be simple? No attachments to anything, anybody or pets…." I said that it was typical when he got worried. The drow almost wanted to hold him.

After he gently leaned his forehead against a cupboard, he asked, "Fine. How do you suggest looking for it?"

"I know where they always come and go with stolen loot. It should be the attic, trouble is, I don't have the key. Another pet? You mean…."

"Yes mine too, Serif my dog. He's locked up somewhere," I said. "I can easily obtain more keys. Love to practice my theft."

Ilkar retorted, "Time is tight! What if we can't find them? You both need to go. The mercenaries are returning, can't have them catch you again!"

I analyzed, "Don't fret, Ilkar, now there're three of us. I'm sure we will find Guen and my pet. Drizzt is a skilled assassin eh? Everything will work out."

He did not look convinced, sat down to take deep breaths. "Drizzt, he has a mark, a dangerous tattoo making casting painful. So you see, life is hard for him."

The drow said he understood and wished to aid us. We shook hands. Ilkar's stare was uncompromising and fierce. "If you betray us, drow I will not hesitate to do what I must. I can't afford any slip ups. I respected my friend. It was his deathwish… " It chilled me that the kind elf had a harshness in his tone.

"I won't do that."

Ilkar didn't trust the dark elf. Why and how did he get himself in this mission? A fine mess. He could have his share of women, luxuries, gold. He should have ignored the plights of all the sad faces, abandoned his conscience and simply focus on himself! Everyday the elf asked himself this. Well, their race had too much honour.

Felicia seemed all right with the drow. They were talking now, but he did not have to hear what was being said. Drizzt had a pet too, he may insist it was not just a pet but, I'll just simplify it all,this is too much for animals collar to get freed. I should purchase one too,a cat or an otter? Ilkar smirked.

The tattoo was intensified of late, though he endured it. A bad sign, because when the villains exerted control and tortured prisoners of territories taken over, it meant all those cursed would feel utmost agony. So, his mood would not be the most uplifting. Ilkar wished he could sleep and not wake up.

"Is everything okay? Have something to drink," the girl coaxed, looking anxious. She could be a mixed blood, not entirely human. Those bright leaf eyes reminded him of his lover.

Drizzt learnt about the curse on the mage's arm. He hailed from Julatsa, a very prominent magical region. The drow had heard of this College of magic from Silverymoon's Lady. No surface elf would trust a drow. They had a reputation of cunning. The only problem of freedom was his collar that made it ache. He could sympathize with Ilkar's pain.

"How does Serif look like? Your Familiar? I have an affinity with animals."

She described him as a small dog with patches. "He seems to be in a dark enclosed place. I can't picture where he is. I need to find him soon, though I feel no pain. Really how do you have affinity?" Felicia beamed.

"I am a ranger. I see. He could be in the attic, I saw some people struggling with an enchanted prison a few days ago."

"Thank you! Ilkar are you alright?" she whispered into his ear. The Julatsan was weary despite his initial temper. In fact, the drow had never seen such bone whiteness to a surface cousin. They had more tanned, golden skin. Lady Alustriel his wizard friend gave off a moon aura so she was different. "I am sorry to trouble you," the ranger said.

"No, I am in a bad mood. How fast are your reflexes, Drizzt? As in, when enemy uses the collar, will you be able to kill him?"

He considered this. "I have tried. The killing is what I do all the time, to the blackhearted swine, so I am able to. The shocking pain prevents me from going near a person who has the control. I often faint before I get close."

Ilkar nodded. "What kind of pain?" He was pressing his right arm and stood up from the chair.

"Stinging a type of current. And I cannot breathe."

"Felicia, when we find out how it all works, reckon you can destroy the switches. While we distract?" Maybe it was some central machine. The mercenary had not seen much of technology but he was guessing.

"Yes I can."

"Good," Ilkar's energy returned in a trickle. He almost had it under control, when the throbs worsened and he could hardly breathe. "Oh shit…" The room looked so dark suddenly and Felicia brushed against him. He vaguely heard them cry out his name. The Julatsan crumpled. Drizzt caught him before he hit his head on the floor, backwards.

"Ilkar! Oh god, what happened?" she panicked.

The drow frowned. His skin was burning up. "We have to get him to lie down. His pulse is quite unstable." Felicia began to cry silently and unrolling his sleeve, the marking was pulsing and had reddened. She followed him carrying Ilkar to the bed.

Drizzt said he was sorry and opened his shirt. Then he took his other hand and felt for the pulse. Ilkar shivered. There were no other injuries on other parts of his chest and neck. The child murmured something and a green-blue light emitted from her hands. The patient's breathing was quick and erratic. Drizzt used the blanket to cover him and touched his forehead.

Should he risk calling a mage to heal him? "No it's no use. No healing can help. What can we do?" Felicia gasped.

"I think I can make a herbal remedy. There is a garden, I've been there often. I shall go now. Get some water to cool him down." Felicia nodded and ran to find a bucket of water.

The ranger hurried to the first landing gardens. In a few minutes, his experience made sure he found the herbs necessary for relieving pain and fever. Drizzt's pity stirred.

Mine is not as serious. I have moments of rest in between the controls.

Ilkar heard them calling, but the place looked really dark. A Warmheal pulsed on his hand. He pulled away weakly. "Stop… open the curtains. So dark." His head ached so much, and he felt numbed to any pain, only the Curse consumed him.

"Shhh don't move. Drizzt went to get herbs." Cold cloth applied to his brow. He reached out, contacting with a soft fabric. His unhurt hand was grasped. "I'm helping, Ilks. Sleep." Fatigued, the stricken mage let himself go.

Upon waking, the elf was glad he could move his toes and limbs though they felt detached from him. With an inner Probing, Ilkar ascertained his condition had temporarily stabilized. Still, his foggy mind failed to recall why he was bedridden. He heard speaking nearby and raised his trembling hand. Too hard to get up. Frustrated that his normal voice was barely above a whisper. Summoning some strength, Ilkar managed to lift his head off the pillows and saw two familiar figures. The dog nudged his chest. He could not see anything beyond blurry figures and shapes. "It's best you remain lying down, Ilkar. How is it?" This person pressed him down and got a cloth to wet his brow. Slowly the hazy memory returned in fragments. He whispered.

A feminine voice piped, "It's me. We were talking, then you went white and luckily Drizzt was here. You fainted. Didn't have a fever before. He opened your shirt, and took off the boots. Or you didn't breathe well?" From the wobbly tone, he could tell she must have cried or wanted to. His vision was far from perfect. Drizzt- oh yes we were there… before I… Smiling, Ilkar moved to console his ward. Patting her leg got her to calm down.

"You did well. Thanks. This… pain gets worse. Whenever they capture someone like me. The other time I hurt this bad, when Dimitri… ." Ilkar decided to keep his eyes closed so the nausea would not worsen. She struggled to be brave and listened to him. Drizzt had been silent, until she asked again if he was fine.

"Frankly arm is painful, but lying down is a good idea." Turning to the side, the mage retched and coughed. That took time to subside. He was bathed in sweat and gasping. She shouted his name. "Let me do this. Come, I've made this try and swallow it." The drow propped him up and steadied his hands on a mug of warm brew. Ilkar managed to keep it down and watching Serif sitting on the blanket, almost helped him forget the effects of being ill. It worked its healing magic and he had the energy to stay awake just for now. His parched throat was smoothened and his arm stopped throbbing.

Fel glared and gestured. "Stay in bed. Don't scare the crap out of me again, Ilkar! You stupid idiot!" He would have laughed if he had the stamina. She was feisty.

"We can find a man for you to kill. The quicker the better, then you will get well. Drizzt has the skill." Seeing him sink down into the pillows in defeat, she stopped and frowned.

His heart was sorrowful. "Promise me something… I may not survive…" He squeezed her hand.