Revenge of the Elven

Chapter 19

Varrell and Taeril walked through to the noble quarters towards the council rooms. They were both silent the whole walk there but both hearts raced. The walk felt like the longest walk ever, even harder than climbing the mountain of Heaven’s Reach. They stopped just at the gates before the courtyard and looked at one another. Varrell took a deep breath and then spoke.

“That all took a while they will wonder why, now I think we should just say that you got lost again and play on the simple-minded elf once more,”

“Yes, I agree, I will say little and only speak when spoken to,” he said, his voice sounded pained.

“I know this is hard and terrifying, but we’ll get through this,” she said.

“Your words offer no reassurance when I can hear your own doubt in them,” he said and she looked disappointed, “but I thank you for trying,” he added, and she smiled meekly.

“Right, on we go,” she said trying to sound confident and led the way. Her heart pounded inside her chest so hard she thought it might burst. She was not scared of much but the possibility of leading this elf to his death terrified her to the core. What happened in these rooms was completely out of her control. They stepped through the large double doors, towering high above them, and were met and led by an eagerly awaiting warlock, young and likely with a view to a political career. He led them to the council chambers. Taeril was still hunching and suffering because of his returned injury. They stopped before the council members. Taeril still wore a scowl upon his face but he refrained from making eye contact with any of the magic wielders in the council in case his malice towards them showed through.

“What took so long?” Lilura the witch asked.

“I had to find him, he was not at home and I found him in the lower commons,” Varrell said.

“So, he was not at home last night?” another asked.

“No,” Varrell kept it brief.

“Where were you, elf?” Lilura asked sharply.

“I got lost... again, I am sorry mistress,” he said looking to Varrell.

“It’s alright, I only worry about you when you wander off,” she said and then looked back at the council, “his head is always in the clouds, I swear, he is a good servant, not much for conversation but he’s pretty to look at,” Varrell said light heartedly and one of the warlocks stood eyeing Taeril before slowly stepping down and walking towards him. He reached out a hand to the collar and Taeril flinched but then braced himself allowing the touch. He could feel the warlock’s icy hands as they brushed the skin on his neck whilst reaching for the collar.

“It is imbued with binding magic, “ he said turning back to the others and moving away.

“As it should be, but we did not place this collar,” Lilura said.

“He came with it,” Varrell said, feeling her skin start to moisten with sweat.

“And why have you not registered him yet?” Lilura asked sternly.

“To be honest, I simply forgot, my head has been in the clouds a little too lately,” she replied with a laugh.

“Where did you get him?” a witch whose name she did not know.

“I was… on the pathways of Heaven’s Reach and I caught his then owner beating him, he surely would have killed him kept landing blows to his chest and stomach so I had to help,”

“That is just like you, Varrell but you could have turned him in,”

“If he is with me then I know he will not be mistreated,” Varrell replied.

“Right. Register him now, “ the same warlock who tested the collar came over with a large book and a quill and ink. Varrell hesitated but only for a moment and then put pen to book page. She met eyes with Taeril who looked nervous as she started to write. He began to shake as the quill scratched into the page. This was not something she could refuse, and she had to behave casually if they were to avoid suspicion. Name. Owner. Name. Servant. Residence. He did not want his name written but it was too late as the quill scratched letters onto the page.

“There, are we cleared? I know you suspected my elf, but you do not need to be concerned, he couldn’t hurt a fly,” Varrell managed to succeed in sounding casual

“Yes, it seems that way, but it is still suspicious that he was not home last night when the murder occurred. Varrell, we have a task for you, help us in this investigation,” Lilura said and the others murmured in agreement.

“I will do all I can, Bryni was a good man,”

“Just so you know, we will be keeping a close eye on you and your elf, at least for now, “ one said.

“I understand, now come Poppin, we should head home and begin our day,” she said and Taeril frowned but followed. They arrived back at Varrell's home and the moment they were behind doors it was as though they both started breathing again feeling relief sweep over them. They looked at one another and slowly they began to laugh.

“What was Poppin all about?” he asked her, and she grinned.

“That is your name, I got the sense you did not want me putting your real name on that book page, so I thought of another,”

“And that was the best you could come up with?” he asked her as he raised an eyebrow.

“I thought it was funny, perhaps not,” she muttered putting a hand to her chin feigning thoughtfulness.

“Well, we both got to keep our heads, for that I am relieved,” he said.

“Yes, I think you should stay with me, for now, they said they would keep a close eye, I do not want you catching their attention again, I will prepare a guest room. I can prepare a bath if you’d like?” she asked him.

“I… I agree but I need to get that Karimek orb back from that witch friend of yours,” he said.

“She does have a name, you can use that you know,” Varrell replied.

“Right, I need to get that pure entity back with me, it was close enough to death as it was,”

“Before you said it was dead, that appears to not be the case,” she enquired.

“Yes, by welcoming it, I was keeping it alive,” he said.

“Kessa should be by later, she will want to know we are safe, and I am sure she will know to bring it,” Varrell assured.

“The longer it is…” he trailed off.

“You are concerned for it? Do you fear not having the power it gave you?” she asked.

“I care for the entity, it saved me I do not wish to fail it, although there is not much of the spirit left, I want to ensure its survival,” he replied. Varrell led the way to the kitchen and offered he help himself to some food and drinks whilst she disappeared to prepare his guest room down the hall from her own chambers. Taeril stood in the kitchen awkwardly and looked around, he was to stay here then, he thought and wondered when he would get to return to his new clan underground. He did not feel comfortable here, Varrell’s house was large, and it was rich, he longed for his life in the forests but as things were the way they were he felt better hiding and the underground tunnels did just that. He decided to take a seat and simply sat waiting for Varrell to return but his anxiety about the pure entity would not leave him and the collar he wore that remained binding of his other powers. He felt restless and he shifted the collar about his neck. It did not help. There was a knock at the door and without thinking he bolted out of his chair and to the door hoping it was Kessa but to his displeasure it was her warlock friend Arlan. They shared a hateful glare but it was not Taeril’s place to refuse his entrance, so he opened the door wider and allowed the magic wielder inside. They both stood awkwardly in the entrance hall for a moment and then Varrell appeared a little flushed from preparing Taeril’s bed.

“Your room is ready, Poppin!” she called and then stopped seeing Arlan. “Oh, hello,” she greeted and hurried down the stairs.

“I saw Kessa just a moment ago and hurried here after she told me, I am relieved it seems it went well,” he said.

“I don’t suppose she gave you anything to bring?” Taeril asked and Arlan shook his head.

“She will be on her way here shortly, she is closing her services at least for a while,” Arlan informed. “I told her she should have smashed that orb,” he said maliciously.

“You have no idea what you speak of,” Taeril snarled.

“I do and to me you are still the top suspect in Councilman Bryni’s murder,”

“But of course, I would be, wouldn’t I?” Taeril snapped taking a step forward.

“You are probably the most dangerous elf I have come across, so yes,” Arlan hissed.

“Stop it! Both of you!” Varrell yelled impatiently. “Taeril was joined with a pure spirit not a dark entity,”

“That is what he told you, believe what you like,”

“I saw it, Arlan, it was pure, it shone with an otherworldly light and it was beautiful, it was pure,” she said, and her friend just shook his head.

“You sound almost as though you are trying to convince yourself of that, Varrell,” Arlan spat.

“Why have you not turned me in?” Taeril asked the warlock. “You could easily go to the council with your accusations and your knowledge and yet you do not, you simply come round here and give Varrell these lectures, shout at me and puff your chest,” Taeril said inquisitively.

“It is out of respect for Varrell, I suppose part of me hopes that her judgement was correct, though I know it is far from it,”

“Both of your prejudice against one another is preventing you from seeing that you are both good men. You hate him because he is a magical elf, you hate him because he is a human with magic. I was distrustful of Taeril to begin with too, I will not pretend otherwise, but I have learned that he is a good man. I wish the two of you could put your differences aside, at least for me, at least to… try,” she said looking from one man to the other. “If there was any way to pay me back for helping you, Taeril, this could be it, though I did not ask for a return on my help, but I would like for the two of you to try and get along,” she added. The men looked at one another, eyes still distrusting.

“I can try,” Taeril agreed through gritted teeth.

“Do you swear you had nothing to do with Bryni’s death?” Arlan asked.

“I did not even know who he was but by all accounts, he worked in favour of my people, I would not have harmed him,”

“I suppose,” Arlan agreed and then slowly held out his hand towards the elf. Arlan accepted and they shook hands. Varrell smiled.

“See, that was not too hard now, was it?” she asked them.

“I must go now, I just wanted to ensure you were alright,” Arlan said, and he placed a hand at Varrell’s waist before placing a kiss on her cheek to say goodbye and then he left. Varrell turned to Taeril after and smiled.

“Are you and he… together?” he found himself asking her.

“Oh no! Arlan, Kessa and Decan are all like family to me, we have been friends for years,” she said.

“I see,” Taeril replied.

“Would you like to see your room?” she asked him, and he nodded so she led the way. She opened the guest room door allowing him to step in first.

“This is… huge,” he muttered looking around.

“Is it?” she asked having thought it was modest but perhaps to him it was quite large since he had spent most of his life in cages or chains.

“Thank you, Varrell,” he said sincerely and turning to her. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you,” he said looking deep into her eyes with his beautiful golden ones and for a moment she felt lost but in a good way.