| No-Name Amongst Humans |
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NOTE:
Trossbalg: Tross is an old word for the baggage train of armies. Especially in the Thirty Years' War in Europe those baggage trains were almost as big or bigger as the armies itself. They consisted of the soldiers' wives, children, whores, their baggage etc. There is the word Trossdirne, which means a whore travelling with the soldiers in such baggage trains. The word Trossbalg is an invention of mine; Balg means child but with the connotation of brat or bastard. Thus Trossbalg could be translated: baggage train brat. But curse it, that just doesn't ring! Baggage brat sounds weird too. So I stayed with Trossbalg (since Trossbrat would mean mixing languages in one word and that's not too good either) I hope you can put up with it.
If I had thought it was my privilege to make decisions that have other people puzzled and annoyed I have been proven wrong. Fairly wrong. Thev's sudden resolution to return back to work in the mines for Marantar took me very much by surprise. Which is a strange experience, though not an unpleasant one. I can't fathom what made the young Lord Greensleeves take this step. I had assumed he would charge out and rescue Samiel from Marantar. I think that is what he would really want to do. But then despite his temper I think Thev is not a stupid human. He must have realized that there is nothing he can do to help Samiel even if he manages to take him away from Marantar again. Still I don't mind this course of events. I've decided to follow Thev and to observe. Not to meddle. Not until I want to. So far I rather want to see what Thev is going to do, what he plans. Moreover I can't wait to see those mines. I'm very curious how the mage Marantar is going to react when he sees Thev and me returning. Perhaps he will loose control again? Or he will treat me once more to this superior look? That would be very interesting. As we got on our way that night in pursuit of Marantar and his men, Thev skirted the inn in a wide circle so noone would spot him. Watching the youth stumble over roots and through the thicket in the darkness I remembered that humans didn't travel well by night. I asked Thev if he didn't think Marantar had rather stayed at the inn till morning. Thev answered me curtly that not even a honey tongued sly bastard like Marantar could persuade a whole Inn full of people to stay under one roof with an empath. Especially not with a sick one. Even though I tried I didn't get him to talk more on that topic. He walked in sullen silence only answering my questions with repeated mutterings of 'Bugger of elf.' Or 'bloody elf'. Or 'pesterin' elf'. I don't think he has quite accepted my company. And it was then that I realized that although I was amongst people I had really returned to the 'Freedom-of-no-Name'. None of the humans know my name and my elfin companions were already heading back north. For a moment I wondered if Hylasander had made the song about me like he'd said this morning. And I wondered if he now would grow to resent the humans because I put my interest in humans above the possibility to partner with him for a while. Ah but then perhaps he wouldn't. Compared to what had been between me and Laertessian Hylasander has hardly any reason. Still, it is strange, and this thought did occur to me, that those younger elves are somehow more like humans. Before the Fimbulan movement no elf would have ever thought anything of it, when a partnership was broken by invoking the 'Freedom-of-no-Name'; because you took more interest in whatever else occupied your mind. It seems that with stealing the humans' words 'love and loss' we also made it possible to experience a little the feelings they name. But these thoughts about my departed companions were just brief ones. Already the name Joanathos starts to ring hollow - meaningless. Instead I have discovered with a curious feeling that 'bloody pesterin' elf' is taking on a lot of meaning. Perhaps I have not really returned to the 'Freedom-of-no- Name'. But neither am I in company or with a partner. Of course since I am staying amongst humans now all those elfin terms will probably be no longer of any use to me. I really am most interested what and who I will become while staying amongst the humans. And thus I realize that this book I'm writing will be as much about myself as it will be about the humans.
-------- Joanathos stretched out his up drawn legs that had served him as a tablet while he had been writing and lowered his book onto his lap. His gaze came to rest on the young human who lay curled up in the mossy cradle of some tree roots just a few arm lengths away from the elf's own resting place against a beech. Thev seemed to be still fast asleep even though the dappled light of the late morning sun occasionally tickled his nose through the shifting canopy of leaves. But then they had been walking till after the moon had set last night and dawn had already been a faint promise in the eastern sky behind them. Obviously Marantar hadn't shown any mercy to his men and the pack ponies either, for they hadn't caught up with the mage's train till then. They couldn't be far behind it though and Thev seemed to have decided that he still had enough time to catch up with them before they reached the mines. So he found himself a place where to get a few hours of sleep, clearly exhausted by all that had been happening that night. Joanathos closed his book as the ink had tried and carefully put it back into his travelling bag along with the other writing equipment. He just couldn't let the opportunity to get an undisturbed look at the young human pass unused. Silently he moved across the small stretch of forest ground, crushing fir needles beneath his feet, their fragrant smell filling his nostrils as he bent over the sleeping youth. Thev's boyish face was pillowed on one of his arms and Joanathos noticed interested that sleep had smoothed the sullen expression of the youth's features. The full lips were slightly parted, looking soft and moist like only those of human children could. Dark, soft locks of hair fell across young Lord Greensleeves' cheek and along the curve of his smooth, strong neck. Fascinated the elf's gaze lingered at the youth who looked so very unlike the people of the Fair Folk. With his dusky skin and black eyes he looked even unusual amongst the humans of the Borderlands. But then perhaps Thev wasn't from the borderlands, Joanathos considered thoughtfully, remembering the curiously fluctuating thickness of the youth's Borderland accent. The immortal reached out and trailed his fingertips along the gentle curve of Thev's cheek, contemplating the warmth and velvety texture his touch encountered. After a moment Thev lifted his free arm and draped it over his face with a muffled protesting moan to fend off the faint disturbance and probably to block out the sunlight as well. Disappointed Joanathos drew back his hand and waited patiently till the youth awoke. It didn't take long. Thev turned around, getting entangled with the blanket around his middle and apparently he didn't find any new comfortable position, his legs slipping and dangling over one of the roots. With another soft groan the young human finally opened his eyes - to find the pale, haughty face of a Fair Lord hover above him, observing him with aloof interest. "Oh curse you..." Thev muttered with a voice still husky with sleep. "I'm na a bug!" Joanathos raised an eyebrow guardedly. "No, you aren't." He affirmed, not quite sure why the human thought he might need to assure himself of such a thing. The annoyed scowl returned to Thev's brow, as he obviously suspected the elf to make fun of him. "Nay, I'm not. So don't look at me as if I were!" As much as he wanted to Joanathos didn't understand what Thev was trying to tell him with all this bug-business. "I can assure you I haven't been looking at you like at a bug, young human. Bugs don't hold much interest for me. I usually don't notice them, nor look at them." He told the youth sincerely. For a moment Thev seemed at a loss, struggling to read the Fair Lord's face, to see if he was leading him on. But he clearly got no wiser. "Just shut up, elf." Thev finally huffed giving up on explaining it to Joanathos. Instead he turned to the easier task of untangling himself from the blanket and got up. Joanathos retreated back to his travelling bag, moving out of the youth's way. After Thev had finished packing his few belongings he sat down on a tree root and pulled on his worn leather shoes, strapping them around his calves. While he pulled the knots tight with a brisk movement he gazed at the immortal from beneath the heavy locks falling into his face. The suspicion sparkling in the black eyes was detectable even for the elf. "What are ye still doin' 'ere anyway?" Thev wanted to know gruffly. "All those other elves already left back North with their cursed pockets full o' silver." "I told you, I'm following you." Joanathos answered the mortal with superior patience. He had expected that Thev would get back to this issue again. "You..." The youth bit back a curse. "Why? Why are ye followin' me?" "Because I want to." It was a simple statement, being all the reason that counted for the elf. Thev tried to breath calmly, clearly making an effort. "Look, ye can't. Ye'll just have to find somethin' else to amuse yourself with, elf." His voice sounded slightly pressed. All the effort of trying to reason with the immortal earned him was an infuriatingly bemused smile. "Of course I can follow you." The elf pointed out the obvious. For a moment the casual arrogance left Thev speechless. Then he got up and glared down at Joanathos. "Don't get high hopes to find work in the mines." He taunted annoyed. "You're too tall, elf!" "Work in the mines?" Joanathos mused, while slowly enfolding his tall slender body. With one fluid motion the immortal rose and gazed loftily down at Thev. "No. I rather leave that to you." Lacking the patience for further witticisms the human spat a curse that was too thick with the Borderland accent for Joanathos to understand. Thev grabbed the rolled up blanket and shouldered it with a jerky movement. After another scowl he turned his back on the elf and got back onto the path, clearly intending to ignore the Fair Lord's presence again. Joanathos didn't mind. He picked up his travelling bag and followed the young human leisurely with his graceful, long legged stride. -------- After an hour of silent walk they came across a small meadow beside the road on which someone had evidently camped very recently. They couldn't have left long ago for the grass was still well pressed down around the ring of stones that contained the ashes of a small fire. The smoky smell of burned wood still lingered in the fresh mountain air mingling with the odour of some horse apples. Thev shortly stopped at the abandoned campsite, taking in the signs, then he walked over to a small brook that wound through the meadow blinking in the sun like a silvery snake. He knelt down and thirstily drank from his cupped hands and washed his face. Skirting the meadow there was a bramble bearing ripe blackberries and the young human quickly picked the dark berries from between the thorny veins, stuffing hands full of them into his mouth. Clearly they didn't do too much to soothe the boy's hunger. After that unsatisfying breakfast Thev turned back to the path, still ignoring the tall elf that followed him with inhuman patience. Joanathos noticed that Thev was slightly slowing down as they had left the meadow behind them. It puzzled him since it wouldn't take them long to catch up with Marantar and his train if they kept a steady pace. Silently he observed the young human trying to fathom what was going on behind those dark eyes and that gloomy frown of his. Thev seemed to dally deliberately and Joanathos guessed that he probably tried to think of what he was going to say to Marantar. "Last night the mage said he wouldn't punish you for running away from the mines." The elf offered helpfully. The unexpected announcement after such a long silence made Thev look up in surprise. He stared at Joanathos then huffed gruffly and shrugged. "Because you have slowed down I thought you were probably afraid." Joanathos pointed out unabashed. It earned him another annoyed huff from Thev. "I'm not afraid!" With that the young human returned to drudge along silently. Joanathos caught up to walk right beside him and to get a better view at Thev's face. "Are you sure Kaldoren Marantar will let you work in the mines again?" Joanathos inquired with emotionless curiosity. "He will probably think you're up to something, won't he?" "I'm not up t' anythin'. So don't interfere, elf." Thev snapped, shooting the Fair Lord a warning gaze. "You don't intend any longer to help Samiel?" A hint of surprise showed in Joanathos' melodic voice. The young human's hands clenched into fists, but he kept staring at the road. "I can't help 'im. Ye said so yerself, oh Fair Lord." The boy said harshly. "I'm not responsible for Samiel. I tried to help him but I couldn't." Uncertainly Joanathos pondered this. He could have sworn Thev had some sort of plan in mind to help little Samiel. But then perhaps it really was beyond the young human's resources. Still, the elf couldn't quite believe that Thev was giving up. "Why are you going back to the mines then? The way you talked about the mines it seemed like you didn't like it there. Why don't you just walk somewhere else?" Joanathos finally inquired. "I'm not leaving Samiel like this." It was an impulsive stubborn protest and judging by Thev's glower it had slipped the youth. "Now just shut up damn elf! That's all none of yer business!" He added vehemently. The elf raised an eyebrow in a doubting expression. "This sounds all very contradicting. I don't think that the mage will be convinced by those explanations." With a soft curse Thev racked his hand through his tangled hair. "Well he surly won't think I'll be able to cross 'im again now that 'e's warned. He won't admit he can't hold me in check." It sounded to Joanathos as if the young human tried to reassure himself. But as he pictured the mage in his mind he had to concede that Thev was probably right about that. "That seems possible." He admitted though he doubted Thev was interested in his opinion. Still since he had the boy finally talking on the topic he meant to satisfy his curiosity. "I think the mage Marantar tried to hint to me that you were his harlot and that's why you're acting stubborn because it somehow hurt your pride to be his harlot." "What?!" Thev's head snapped around and he glared at the elf. "He told you what? I'm not HIS harlot!!" Joanathos hadn't thought the human's reaction would be so strong. Unfortunately he didn't quite know if that meant that the mage had been misleading him or if there was truth in his words. He couldn't curve his curiosity. "But you've been playing Lord Greensleeves with him?" "Playin' Lord Greensleeves...?" Thev gave an annoyed laugh about that weird euphemism. But the elf couldn't help noting that the youth looked agitated, his cheeks glowing and his eyes sparkling. "It's got nothin' to do with that. Nothin' at all! That bastard! He just wants t' make me look like a stupid boy so noone will listen seriously to me. It's got nothing to do with it if he screwed me or not. It's about the way he uses Samiel. He sends him into the mines and makes him blast the stones by his magic, sending it through Samiel. He doesn't care at all if Samiel gets hurt! He's a coward! He is sound and safe above ground while Samiel takes the damage. I don't care if he's his empath! I don't care if he owes him his life! I don't want him to use Samiel like that and make it sound so sensible, talkin' about considering the risk and about duty. Curse duty! I won't have him hurt Samiel anymore! I... I... Damn it!" The young human's chest heaved, the broad smooth expand straining against the rough linen of his tunic. In helpless anger Thev's fists clenched and unclenched. Joanathos hadn't expected such a flood of passionate words. This wasn't the way of elfin communication and it put him at a loss as to where interject and continue the conversation. He took some moments to decide which part he was most interested in. "How can he do that? Work his magic through Samiel?" The elf asked in a calm contained voice that was completely at odds with Thev's strong rapid flow of talking. Joanathos' utter calmness absorbed some of Thev's vehemence, causing him to stumble at the lack of resistance. "I don't know. I can't do magic." The boy explained gruffly. "Mages and empaths are always workin' t'gether. Marantar says empaths need mages to protect 'em from bein' possessed by demons." Thev gritted his teeth. "But... but that can't mean to use 'em like this. Samiel wouldn't call a demon if he's just left alone..." The answer wasn't as informative as Joanathos wished for. Still perhaps Thev would know more about other topics. "What's this demons?" At first Thev snorted at something that was obviously a stupid question but then he hesitated and gazed uncertainly at the elf. "Well, it's... it's a demon." He tried to explain awkwardly. "I've never seen one and I... they look like... I don't know. Only if ye look at 'em it's so scary that people die of fright. There aren't that many demons around lately but there were countless of 'em durin' the Plague fifty years ago. But the ol' people don't like talkin' about them much. They say it's bad t' talk about 'em." "But how is it that they are connected to the empaths?" Joanathos insisted patiently although he had little hopes to get more specific answers from the youth. "I told ye I've never seen any." Thev snapped impatiently and defensively. "I don't know about all this magic stuff, stupid elf. You've got to find someone else to pester with yer questions." "Don't you want to get answers yourself?" Thev looked darkly and then huffed dismissively. "I don't care about that cursed magic. I just want to save Samiel." Joanathos raised an eyebrow, but then decided not to point out that Thev had insisted that he didn't return to the mines to help Samiel. But then the elf couldn't shake off the feeling that concern for Samiel was the own motivation that drove the youth. "It seems like you need to know about - this magic stuff to be able to help the little empath." He calmly indicated.
"Shut up, elf." Thev murmured and picked up his pace again. "I'll never catch up to 'em if I keep chattin' with ye." --------- Please continue with this chapter here |
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