"Here
we are, Callie." the thief named Jahik led both Callista and Soryn down a
long corridor within the Thieves' Guild, opening a door to a spacious, if
sparse room.
Already
Soryn didn't like the tall half-elf. Part human and part Sylvan Elf, he looked every bit as barbaric as
he ever considered the woodland elves to be.
His long, red-brown hair was shaggy and looked as though it hadn't been
combed all day. He wore no shirt and
his torso was covered in garish yellow and black tatoos in various complex
designs. Even indoors, his own quiver
was strapped to his back and his bow was out, as though he expected to be
attacked at any time.
Worse yet, he was fawning over
Callista with a barely concealed libido, touching her whenever possible, eyeing
the cleavage and legs that her cloak didn't cover and licking his lips, and
basically making it well-known that he would dearly love to take Callista to
his bed. Truth be told, Soryn suspected
that the two had probably mated before... and often.
"Thanks,
Jahik. After what happened, I feel
better sleeping indoors." Callista smiled at the handsome half-elf, her
eyelashes fluttering flirtatiously at him.
"Anytime,
my sweet lady." Jahik bowed slightly, kissing her hand with an ease that
made Soryn physically ill. "I've
missed you, copina. If you wish,
come and see me later. You know where
my room is."
"Jahik...
behave." she scolded him for the brazen comment, smiling nonetheless, an
unmistakable promise in her green eyes.
"Oh,
I don't think I can behave when faced with your beauty, dearest Callista."
he whispered in her ear from behind as Soryn went ahead of them into the
room. "Come to me tonight, Callie mia
copina. I will please you all night
if you wish."
"Jahik...
I just got attacked by goblins... I'm weary." she tried half-heartedly to
break away from his possessive grasp.
"Mia
copina... you've been with me before.
Am I not a gentle lover when I need to be?" he insisted, turning
her to face him, his blue eyes alight with hope.
"Yes...
you are. I'll think about it,
Jahik. All right?" she capitulated
to his ardent demands, trying desperately not think of Soryn in Jahik's place. What sort of lover would he be like? Quick and passionate? Slow and tender? A mix of both?
"I'll
wait for you, Callista." Jahik kissed her hand again, briefly running his
tongue over her skin in erotic promise of the night to come, should she choose
to lie with him.
Classic,
Callie... very swift. Here you are,
going to sleep with one man to ease the thoughts of love with another. Exactly how sad and pathetic are you going
to be? she thought to herself as she closed the door into the room and slid
her pack down onto a nearby chair. She
winced but made no sound as the leather strap grazed heavily over a wound on
her arm from the teeth of one of the dreadwolves. It was minimal, only a flesh wound... but it needed tending and,
as luck would have it, it was her good arm that was wounded.
Soryn
appeared by her side without warning, looking at the bleeding gash with a
mixture of concern and shock. With a
gentleness she'd never seen in him before, he grasped her wrist and pulled her
towards him.
"You're
wounded? Why didn't you say
something?" he asked, studying her arm intently for further damage and
testing her ability for movement.
"It's
nothing I can't handle. I just may need
a little help wrapping it. Could
you?" she asked shyly, looking up at him through her lowered eyelashes.
"Yes. Do you have bandages anywhere?" he
nodded, rising to fetch her pack and rifle through it to look. At her directions, he found the roll of
bandages and proceeded to prepare a bowl of water with pain-relieving
herbs. With surprisingly gentle hands,
he washed her wounds with the water, cleaning out the dirt and wolf slobber
that had imbedded itself within. Once
that was done, he carefully wrapped the clean bandage around the gash, just
enough pressure exerted to help stop the bleeding.
"You
won't do me much good if you're incapacitated, will you?" he offered in
explanation when she looked at him curiously.
"I
suppose not." she smiled wryly, patting the bandaged arm gingerly. "Thank you, Soryn."
He
looked at her peculiarly, surprised at her sincere gratitude and at the fact
that she felt she needed to thank him in the first place. What was he supposed to do? Let her bleed to death?
"No
thanks are needed. I just did what
needed to be done." he shrugged, taking a book from his pack and sitting
down to read and study as he was his habit whenever they settled down for the
night.
With
a quiet sigh, Callista rose from her chair and rummaged through her pack again,
searching for a certain item of clothing.
Soft as silk and about as light, she pulled the long, powder blue
nightgown out and slipped behind the changing curtain to put it on. She knew Jahik's taste and was certain he'd
be pleased by this outfit, however Jahik was rather far from her mind.
Soryn
would see her in it too... what would he think? Probably that it's too revealing and undignified. she
thought ruefully, looking at herself in the nearby mirror. The gown fit to her slim figure like second
skin, clinging to her lithe curves and leaving very little to the imagination. The neckline was higher than that of her
tunic, but due to its wideness, it had a tendency to slip down her shoulders to
reveal far more than it concealed.
Focused
on ignoring whatever Soryn's comment would be, Callista emerged from behind the
curtain and folded her tunic over her chair.
She refused to look in Soryn's direction, certain she would see disgust
and condemnation in his golden eyes.
Soryn
looked up as she came closer and did a fair double-take. The child was utterly breath-taking! In contrast to her daily tunic and boots,
her nightgown was lacy and feminine, making her look like a bride on her
wedding night. Although exposing, the
nightgown was tasteful and quite tempting in its own right. As she folded her tunic over the back of her
chair, she bent forward slightly, the loose neckline falling away from her skin
and displaying the tops of her breasts to his fascinated gaze.
Abruptly,
confused by the powerful feelings that surged through him, Soryn rose and
walked several paces away, heading for the pitcher of water in excuse. What on earth was this? His heartbeat had quickened, his blood had
heated, and he felt a strange and urgent longing for something he couldn't
identify. All he knew was that he was
immensely grateful when Callista donned a wrap of sorts and left the room,
leaving him to wonder what in the world was wrong with him.
* * * * *
Soryn
growled in frustration as he once again tried to get comfortable in his bed and
attempted to ignore the sounds coming from the next room. Apparently, some couple was thoroughly
enjoying some rather interesting mating rituals. The male's deep groans and the female's soft whimpers left no
doubt in his mind as to what they were doing.
Frankly, rather than being completely disgusted and scandalized he found
himself wondering about mating. In Grey
Elven society, mating was a hidden activity used only for the purpose of
procreation. In all honesty, Soryn had
never thought of love-making with any emotion other than supreme indifference;
it was merely the method of furthering the race and nothing else. Suddenly, he found himself wondering if
there was more to it than that.
The
moans behind the wall were getting louder and more urgent, especially on the
male's part. Soryn had never thought
that mating could be as pleasurable as to make anyone emit sounds like
that. The male sounded almost as if he
were in pain while the female was strangely silent and Soryn speculated as to
what she could possibly be doing to him!
Unbidden,
his thoughts turned to Callista and that enticing nightgown she'd worn earlier. He'd thought his guide a mere child at
first, immature and brash... however, more and more he was seeing her as a
full-grown and very desirable female.
Sweet and childlike though she was at times, she carried the
unmistakable air of a clever and experienced woman. Soryn had never mated before, had always been studying and caught
up in his spells and teachers. He'd
never thought he would want to be saddled with the burden of a mate either, and
such ceremonies were required to bind the betrothed together. Irresponsible matings were frowned upon,
much as they were in most human societies.
Both
of the partners next door were vocal again, the male murmuring something that
Soryn couldn't make out. Their cries
grew louder as they approached what Soryn assumed was their ultimate goal. He began to think of Callista again, despite
his firm resolve not to. Was she a
reserved and quiet lover? He doubted it
given her enthusiasm in approaching any other activity. She was likely an assertive companion, eager
to encourage her lover on.
Without
pausing to consider the ramifications, Soryn closed his eyes and allowed
himself the luxury of a small daydream.
He could almost feel her small hands pass over his chest and arms,
caressing his unexpectedly sensitive skin.
He exhaled slowly in a long, raspy breath. Instinctively, his lips parted, seeking a deep kiss from his
absent and non-existent mate.
Callista...
"Callista... mia copina..."
Soryn sat bolt upright at the
sound of Jahik's voice crying out her name. Callista's pleasure-filled voice followed, not as loud, but
unmistakably hers. For the love of
Corellon! They had been attacked by
goblins and dreadwolves not six hours ago and she was busy copulating with that
thieving half-elf! And she'd had the
utter audacity to try and lower him down to her level, making him aware of her
as a desirable female rather than the heartless, little harlot she truly
was. The shameful whore! The tramp!
Let
her sleep with the entire guild... see if I care. he thought vengefully,
turning away from the offending wall.
Closing his eyes, he tried desperately not to acknowledge the potent
lust coursing hotly through his veins.
* * * * *
Callista
sighed quietly as she listened to Jahik's slumbering breath, her head pillowed
against his wide shoulder. Careful not
to wake him, she raised her head and looked his nude form up and down.
Jahik
was a very handsome replica of his Sylvan Elf father, with finely chiseled
features and hard, well-developed muscles.
He was taller and heavier than most elves due to his human lineage,
however this worked to his definite advantage.
He was stronger and more powerful than any elf she'd ever met...
physically at least. The traditional
tattoos of his people only added to the savage appeal he held over all women,
the golden designs accenting the stark planes of his body.
Looks
aside, Jahik was also a skilled lover, knowing exactly what to do in order to
bring his partner to climax along with him.
True to his earlier word, he was a gentle lover when the situation
called for such discrepancies. He'd
made certain that her wounded arm was never twisted or leaned on... nothing to
cause her pain.
So
why had Callista been forced to choke back her cries, afraid that she might
call out for Soryn while it was Jahik who plundered and pleased her eager
body? Why was she wishing that it was
Soryn's warm and sated flesh against hers, pale rather than tan? Why in the world was she daydreaming about
the mage's seduction at her capable hands?
A seduction, which would, in all likelihood, never come to pass?
* * * * *
Soryn
narrowed his eyes as he heard the door creak open and closed, Callista's
footsteps carrying her to the curtain she'd set up.
"Have
a pleasant night?" he asked with scathing sarcasm.
"Um…
sorry… I overslept." she muttered, embarrassed at having been caught
sneaking back into the room after morning's debut.
"So
I see… your activities last night were no doubt exhausting." he continued
his grumpy assault.
"Activities?"
she pretended daftness.
"From
the sounds coming from Jahik's room, I must assume that you two wore each other
out." he growled as she emerged, fully dressed at last.
"Eavesdropping,
Soryn? That hardly seems proper."
she sneered at him.
"The
entire guild probably heard… there was very little eavesdropping
involved." he mumbled.
"Look,
what I do with my time is my business.
Your only concerns about me should be the travel time… so stick to
that!" she turned on him, her eyes glinting green fire.
"Fine."
He backed down for now, still angry at her indiscretion nonetheless. "Let's get moving… my cousin awaits in
Gahnia."
"After
you." she replied with over-politeness, ushering him out the door.
He
paused outside the threshold, turning on her once again furiously. "At least my parents didn't raise me to
be a whore!"
Callista
stopped dead in her tracks, every muscle in her body plainly tensed. She slowly turned to face him, her eyes
green lightning and her face flushed with anger.
"Don't
you... ever... talk about my parents that way. And I am not a whore!" she hissed, her voice distorted to a
raspy snarl.
"That's
what you are, elfling... a whore to a half-elf." he replied evenly,
unaware that he had just pushed her over the edge.
"That's
it! That is the last straw!" Callista
yelled, pushing his pack into his chest roughly. "If I'm so low then you can try doing this! Let's see how you do on your own!"
With
that, she ran into the woods the opposite direction he knew they had been
heading for. Soryn stood in shock,
watching where she had disappeared and hoping desperately that she would
return. He couldn't do this on his
own! What was she thinking?
The
little tramp... he'd show her.
"Fine...
have it your way, elfling." he murmured, striding off in the correct
direction with far more confidence than he actually felt.
* * * * *
Callista
watched Soryn's progress from the trees and hills, stalking him like a predator
from behind. However, she held no ill
intent towards him, for she was trailing him to make sure that the arrogant
mage didn't get into any trouble that he couldn't handle. She may have said some nasty things and left
him think that he was in the middle of the wilderness all alone, but she was
not nearly cold-hearted enough to follow through with that. Surely he'd learn soon enough; this forest
was crawling with enemies like thieves, kobolds, bears, wolves, goblins, and
orcs. Sooner or later he'd run into a
pack of something and need her timely help, then she would be there to rescue
his sorry hide.
She
trailed him for nearly five miles before he ran into a little trouble. Nothing huge... just a large river, too
fast-moving for the Water Walk spell and too deep to wade across. However, Soryn caught sight of an old bridge
that traversed the river. Upon first
look, the contraption looked fine... but Callista knew better.
Soryn
grinned self-satisfactorily as he stepped onto the bridge. And that little imp thought that he couldn't
take care of himself on this journey!
He'd show her! He find those
gems on his own, without any help from the likes of her! He trotted across the bridge, never noticing
the rotted boards right in the middle.
A single misplaced step and he crashed through the deteriorated planks
as though they weren't even there, splashing into the water below.
Callista,
a short jaunt away saw him fall. By
the dragon! she exclaimed mentally.
He can't swim! In the
space of a heartbeat she had dropped her bag and had dove into the freezing
water as well and was swimming after his struggling form as fast as she
could. He sank under the surface,
unable to keep himself afloat and she followed him doggedly, knowing that he
would lose consciousness quickly between shock, cold, and lack of air. She seized him under the arms and hauled him
to the surface, gasping for breath once there.
He had blacked-out, just as she'd thought and could offer no assistance
in getting ashore. nonetheless, she
managed to pull them both to the other side and up onto the bank.
Shivering
with cold, shaken by the danger they'd both just encountered, and angry that
he'd been careless enough to do such a thing, Callista didn't bother with
herself at all. She regained most of
her breath and then proceeded to build a large fire near where the
still-unconscious Soryn lay, breathing shallowly but alive. He shivered with cold worse than she, for
his heavy robes were sodden with cold water.
Carefully, she pried his staff loose from his hand and set it aside,
wondering what on earth to do. She
couldn't very well remove his clothes for him, he'd kill her! But if she didn't and he stayed in the wet
garments, he could freeze! After a
moment's debate, she settled for removing only his cloak and covering him with
both of the dry blankets from her pack.
Once
the fire was burning well and she'd managed to make Soryn as comfortable as she
could, Callista sat down wearily next to Soryn's head. There was no pillow to go with the pallet
and she wanted him as comfortable as possible, so despite her instincts not to
do so, she placed his head on her lap.
She rationalized by thinking that she merely wanted to be close to him
to make sure that he wasn't catching a fever.
After a few minutes of not being able to resist stroking his cheek or
hair, she rummaged through the pack at her side and pulled out her flute.
* * * * *
Warmth...
a little damp... but warm nonetheless.
And the comforting sound of a fire accompanied by the lilting notes of a
flute playing a Grey Elven tune. Soryn
fought the blackness that fogged his brain, slowly winning the battle. Soon, he opened his eyes a crack, to take in
his surroundings. He was laying on one
of the sleeping pallets a few feet away from a fire and had several blankets over
top of him. He could feel that although drying, his robes were still wet from
his little dip in the river.
The
river! He'd fallen in... but how on earth had he gotten out? The sound of the flute drew his attention
upwards. Callista? What's she doing here? I thought she left. his mind refused to
register the compromising position he was in.
The
flute music stopped abruptly.
"Soryn? Are you awake?" her soft voice called
him, a gentle hand caressing his cheek.
He
could only moan in response, not quite awake enough for him to form words
yet.
"Shh...
it's all right. You're all right. Just rest." she crooned tenderly.
"What...
happened?" he asked, becoming more alert by the second.
"You
fell in the river and-" she began.
"I
know that! I meant what happened after
that?" he growled, sitting up to be rid of her touch. The little chit probably wanted to seduce
him now or something.
"Um...
I pulled you out."
"Where's
my staff? Where?"
She
leaned back away from him, startled by his insensitive outbreak. "Over there... leaning against the
tree."
He
rose, fighting the dizziness to stay upright and made his way to pick up his
staff, confusion numbing his mind. Why
did she save me? After all of the
things I've said to her? All of the
things I've called her? He refused
to admit that he did need her after all... that he'd been stupid to think he
could do without her. Heavens, he'd
nearly gotten drowned through his own oversight!
He
didn't even notice Callista rise and approach him until he felt her hand on his
shoulder, trying to pull him around to face her. The concern in her eyes hurt his pride and he shouldered away
roughly.
"Don't
touch me!" he snarled.
She
backed up, but didn't leave him.
"Are you sure you're well?
I mean, you nearly drowned after all... I think you may have hit your
head as well. I just wanted to make
sure-"
"I'm
fine. Now leave me alone." he
returned to the campfire, leaving her in the dark. She stood there for a long while, her head bowed and her arms
crossed under her breasts, almost as if she were hugging herself.
"Whatever
it was that I did... I'm sorry." she said, her voice thick with some
emotion he couldn't fathom.
From
his seated position in front of the fire, he looked at her in surprise. "What are you blathering about? You didn't do anything."
"Than
why are you so mean to me?" she asked simply, finally returning to the
fire and sitting next to him.
"What have I done to you to deserve this treatment? I save your life and the first thing you do upon
waking up is to start yelling at me!"
He
sighed. "It's not you that I'm
angry with."
"Then
what is the matter?" she demanded.
"I'm
angry at myself!" he finally confessed.
"I'm not accustomed to having to deal with my own stupidity."
"What
you did was perfectly innocent. How
were you supposed to know that the bridge was dangerous?" she offered in
comfort. "No harm, no foul...
after all, you're still here. You
weren't hurt and you learned what to do next time."
"Maybe...
maybe not." he shrugged. "I
thought you left anyway."
"Exactly
how cruel do you think I am? I'd never
leave someone like you to fend for yourself.
I was trailing you the entire time, ready to help if there was
trouble. Good thing I did too."
she explained.
"Yes,
well... why don't humans repair their blasted bridges in the first place?"
he grumbled.
She
smiled. "When you only live for
about eighty years, the last thing you're going to be worried about is the
condition of an out-of-the-way bridge."
He
sighed, his head was starting to hurt and the dizziness was back in
full-force. Callista must have sensed
his illness, for her arms were around him instantly, holding him up when he
would've fallen.
"You're
hurt and you need some rest. I'm sorry
I yelled at you. I forget that most
people are not at their best after such an ordeal." she whispered in
consolation, leading him back to his pallet and laying him down gently.
He
nodded too tired to resist her anymore and too out of sorts to remain aloof to
her touch for long. She reached up and
stroked away a strand of hair that had fallen over his brow, her fingertips
sliding down to caress his cheek lightly.
Involuntarily, he turned his head towards her hand, seeking more of her
touch despite his earlier coldness.
"Sleep."
she coaxed him, aware of his sudden change of heart and desperately trying not
to read so much into it. Once it seemed
he was settled and on the verge of sleep, she turned away from him to unpack
her own pallet.
"Thank
you, Callista." his voice sounded behind her, softer than she'd ever heard
it before. She turned to face him
again, but he was already asleep.
* * * * *
They
stayed on the embankment for several days at Callista's insistence. Soryn had received a nasty blow to the head
due to his accident and was weak from the shock of such an event. During the time of their sojourn, she waited
on Soryn as though she truly were his servant and he, her master. The wounded mage was not allowed to
overexert himself by any means whatsoever, indeed was kept to his pallet for
most of the first day. By the second
day, he was slightly stir-crazy and demanded to be left alone.
"You're
not going to do yourself any favors if you try to do things too soon."
Callista warned him as she tended the fire and watched him struggle to rise
from the pallet.
"I'm
not an invalid." He growled, using his staff to stay upright. "I merely received a bump on the
head."
"And
water in your lungs, a slight bout of unconsciousness, not to mention a shock
to your entire system." Callista added, leaving her chore to approach
him. "If you must move about, at
least let me help you."
He
sighed. "No, Callista. I won't gain any strength if you coddle me
all the time." He waved her off with one long hand, the other not daring
to leave his support.
"Soryn…
you won't heal at all if you don't rest." She persisted, hands on
hips. That said, she hooked his free
arm across her shoulders. "You
don't have to lean your weight on me completely… but if you feel faint or
fatigued, I need to be around to support you."
"Oh,
very well." he agreed reluctantly, trying not to notice that his current
vantagepoint gave him an excellent view into the low neckline of her
tunic. He took a deep breath and
swallowed hard, trying to get past the sudden lump in his throat. With one of her arms around his waist and
the other raised up to grasp his hand, her breasts were raised at a tempting
angle under the unusual wool of her tunic.
"All
right… you're up now… where do you want to go?" she asked, drawing his
gaze back to her eyes.
"Um…
er… I just wanted to be up… I hadn't really planned past that." He
stuttered uncertainly, his mind still fixed on his lovely cohort.
"Well,
if I may make a suggestion… you might want to bathe in the river." She
smiled, starting to lead him in that direction.
"Oh
no… I'm not going near that river again." He shook his head.
"Not
the main river… there's a small inlet a little downstream where the water's
calm in a pool. I found it this morning
while hunting. I'll lead you there and
just stick close by… if you promise to call me should you need any help. Deal?" she suggested.
"Well…
all right." He agreed reluctantly, letting her resume leading.
* * * * *
Callista
kept an eye on Soryn until he reached behind his neck to untie the closures of
his robe, then she politely turned away, knowing that modesty was probably an
important thing to his conservative nature.
She paced aimlessly, just out of sight for a while, trying to think of
something to do. A few minutes into her
reveries, the sound of splashing water reached her attentive ears. Thinking that Soryn had collapsed in the
water or that he was struggling against something, Callista rushed to the
foliage bordering the pool's banks.
He
was in no trouble, but Callista found herself unable to turn away. Soryn stood waist-deep in the cool water,
his silvery hair plastered to his head and neck, his pale skin glistening in
the bright sunlight. The splashing
noise had only been him soaping a rag and rinsing himself clean. Callista had suspected that despite his
pampered existence, Soryn was trim and relatively strong-framed. Little did she know how right she had
been! His shoulders were broad and his
back well muscled, a picture of health despite the white pallor of his skin. He sighed contentedly as he cupped his hands
together bringing some water up to splash over his face.
In
the name of all that is good and holy… Callista took a deep breath. Even Jahik didn't have what she considered
as nice a body as Soryn. Jahik was all
strength and muscle… Soryn was less build and more intelligence to start
with. Unbidden, she sank further into
the brush as Soryn began to swim a little, no doubt to exercise his form in
preparation of their departure for Gahnia.
She held her breath as he briefly dipped his head beneath the surface,
emerging like a god with water dripping from his sopping strands of hair, over
his brow, and sliding down his chest.
She tried desperately not to think of how she would dearly love to have
her hand in place of those innocent drops of water.
The
minute he started to head for the shore, Callista withdrew from her hiding spot
and returned to her former position several yards away. The fact that she had been watching
him as he bathed was bad enough… she didn't need to see him in full nudity,
whether or not he knew about it.
Soryn
dried off quickly, a bit paranoid at being completely naked in the middle of
who-knew-where with Callista nearby.
That done, he pulled on the black tights he regularly wore under his
robe, lacing the front hastily as he felt a wave of dizziness approaching. One hand to his forehead in concentration,
he stumbled to the nearest convenient object to sit on, a moss-covered boulder
of sorts.
"Callista?"
he called weakly in the direction he figured her to be.
She
was at his side almost immediately, kneeling before him with one hand on his
shoulder in comfort. The concern in her
green eyes was plain to see and his heart leapt at her apparent care for him
despite the warning blackness at the edges of his vision.
"Soryn? Are you feeling ill?" she asked, her
voice soft and worried.
"A
little faint… could you help me… get my robe back on?" he asked, a tad
embarrassed at his lack of strength for doing such a trivial act.
"Just
wait for the dizziness to pass, all right?
I need you to be able to stand on your own." She nodded, gathering
up his robe.
She
slipped the velvet garment over his head carefully as he raised his arms to
accept the wide sleeves. He stood and
with deft fingers, she reached around his neck to tie the laces shut. The situation brought her face within inches
of his. Sweet life, she was
beautiful. Her cream-colored skin was
smooth and slightly flushed pink at the cheeks, as though the hot weather had
affected her somehow. Soryn found
himself staring into her brilliant eyes with intense longing.
Perhaps
aware of his scrutiny, Callista's eyes suddenly snapped to his with
surprise. Rather than tearing his gaze
away in shame, as she might have expected him to do, he boldly slid his eyes
downward to focus on her lips. With
more self-consciousness than she thought she'd ever feel, Callista nervously
licked her lips. Soryn's golden eyes
followed the movement, his own lips parting slightly… almost as if he
desperately wanted to kiss her.
Soryn
shook his head to clear it, aware of a sudden heat in the air that had little
to do the fine weather. She was a High
Elf; he was a Grey Elf. She was a
light-hearted bard; he was a serious mage.
She was a promiscuous youngster with no shame whatsoever, he was a
celibate nobleman trying to unravel the mysteries of magic. There was no way he could afford to get
mixed up in any sort of relationship other than a professional one, especially
one with her. And no matter how much he
may want to.
"Ahem…
I believe I'm fine now. Thank
you." He backed up, his voice gruff.
Callista
blinked in confusion. Heavens, but
Soryn blew hot and cold! One minute she
swore he was going to kiss her like she'd never been kissed before and the next
he was shoving her aside as though she were rubbish! How much more of this she could take, she didn't know.
"All
right then. I think we should get going
tomorrow… Gahnia awaits." She mumbled, heading back to their camp without
bothering to ask if he needed help. If
that confounded mage wanted to walk back to camp by himself, he could very well
cast a spell to help! Hell hath no fury
like a woman scorned.
* * * * *
Soryn
sighed in relief as the towers of Gahnia climbed into view over the tops of the
trees. At last he could mingle with his
own kind and not have to deal with his High Elven cohort constantly. And yet, it was the strangest thing. He found that he also didn't want to be
without her company even within the confines of a Grey Elven mountain city. His family would treat him like the royalty
he was, but he would miss Callista's banter and friendliness. Peculiar, but ever since his near-death at
the river's mighty hands, he'd been seeing his little guide in a new
light. No longer was she immature and
obnoxious… just cheerful and, God help him, very skilled at many things.
"Well…
I seem to have taken you as far as Gahnia with no loss of life or limbs… I see
no reason to think that we can't finish this entire quest equally well."
Callista smiled uneasily as the austere walls of the city loomed up before her.
"At
least I… we… have respite for a short while before tackling Phantom Cliff,
yes?" he asked, somehow aware of her instinctive wariness regarding the
city. "Don't worry, no one will
bother you."
"I'm
not afraid." She tilted her chin at him in level defiance.
"No,
of course not." He amended quickly.
"I merely meant that you needn't fear anyone's reprisals while I'm
with you. I'm quite well-respected by
Grey Elves all over."
"I'm
sure… you're a powerful mage of their own." She said quietly. She'd never admit to him, but she was very
much in awe of his command over the mystics of magic. He held sway over everything he touched within reason and she
found his abilities amazing and just a little frightening. If he truly wanted to, he could kill her
with a mere thought and a stroke of his hand.
And, with a single word or two, he could break her tender heart… and
that had nothing to do with magic.
"Come,
Callista… the guards will want to announce us to my cousin, Kiron, and his
household." Soryn urged her forward, barely resisting the desire to put a
comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You may, however, want to put your cloak on and close it."
"I
think you're right… don't want to cause a scandal, do I?" she agreed with
no protests for the first time in Soryn's acquaintance with her.
"It's
not really that… it's just that I'm sure you don't appreciate being stared
at." He shrugged, taking her pack so she could fix the long woolen garment
over her shoulders.
"I'm
a performer, Soryn… I should think I'd be used to getting stared at by
now." She smiled in amicable threat.
"True,
but it is far different when Grey Elves stare at you… it's more of a
distasteful stare." He explained, knowing that he would have a slightly
difficult time in explaining her presence with him.
"Oh…
I wasn't aware that I was that much of a parasite." She whispered, looking
vaguely hurt already… and she wasn't even in the city yet.
Soryn
turned to look at her in passionate concern.
"No! That's not what I
meant, Callista. You know as well as I
that Grey Elves are rather intolerant of other races, even within the Elven
race."
"What
about you?" Callista asked, her green eyes huge as they sought his for
encouragement. "Do you still think
me a whore?" His answer suddenly
meant everything in the world to her.
Soryn
couldn't take his eyes from hers and stood stock-still for a split second
before clearing his throat painfully and looking away with feigned
annoyance. "What does it matter
what I think of you? If you want an
apology for my words at the Thieves' Guild, then fine… I withdraw them. May we continue please?" he walked
ahead, hoping that she couldn't see his face or the expression on it.
I'll
take that as a 'yes'. Callista thought miserably as she hurried to catch up
with him. Dammit. Soryn… all I
wanted was a simple 'You're not too bad.'
Was that too much to ask?
Apparently
so.
Soryn could feel
her pain as if it were a tangible, leaving thing as he led her to the main
gates of the Grey Elven Gahnia. The
silver forged gates woven into the shapes and forms of various terrific
creatures spawned from a cauldron filled (presumably) with magic.
"Who
goes there?" a voice shouted from the closest watchtower.
"
High Mage Soryn Fleethand of the City of Masicus, cousin to Kiron
Fleethand. I come with the celebrated
bard Callista Whispersong of Zantra." Soryn called up, not noticing
Callista's shocked look.
High
Mage? For pity's sake! That's only one step below the King! He's in charge of all of the magicks
practiced within the given realms! Soryn,
dear… you forgot to tell your little guide something here, didn't you?
"Enter at
once, Your Grace… and your servant as well." the voice called back down,
the gate opening of its own magical volition.
"High
Mage?" she asked as they passed through the gates into the first circular
fringe of the city. "You never
told me that you are a High Mage."
"It
didn't seem important. In the
wilderness, I am worth no more than a deer to a common predator and far more to
a robber… it seemed safer to remain slightly anonymous." He shrugged.,
leading her into the vast central stairway through the various layers of the
city.
Callista
was quick to note that the further into the city they traveled, the closer to
the concentric center, the more luxurious and protected the surroundings
became. The first layer had been the
non-Grey servants, the lowliest residents… the very center housed the nobility,
among them being Soryn's cousin.
"My
cousin, how good to see you." A Grey Elf in robes similar to Soryn's
approached graciously, focusing all of his attention on Soryn and ignoring the
trembling High Elf at his side.
"Kiron. How are you faring these days?" Soryn
greeted his cousin amiably, if not affectionately.
"Oh,
very well, I should think. The serfs
are behaving themselves well since we made an example of that last rebel. Very few upsets in the past hundred years or
so." Kiron commented, his golden gaze, as piercing as Soryn's, finally
settling on Callista. "And who is
your… servant?"
"More
than a mere servant, my cousin… a great help to me these past months of
travel. May I present Callista
Whisperheart, my guide and companion throughout the duration of my
missions." Soryn introduced Callista as grandly as if she were on even
keel with his station.
"A
pleasure, sir." Callista smiled, curtseying slightly in the face of the
harsh-looking cousin.
"I'm
sure it is." Kiron ignored her attempts to be proper, coldly refusing to
meet her hand when she offered it.
Seething
at this cousin's rudeness and hostility, Callista clamped her mouth shut and
backed away, trying to blend into the wall.
Her first gut reaction was to knock the arrogant cur to the floor and be
done with him once and for all.
However, things being as they were, she was a guest within his household
and city, albeit a barely tolerated one.
More important, he was Soryn's cousin and she would not risk Soryn's
hatred again.
The
two cousins continued their banter, sounding more like business partners than
family, moving towards a main room off to the side of the balcony they had been
on. Neither male indicated any proper
action to Callista, so she followed them, feeling more and more like a lowly
servant as she went.
"I
say, I suppose you would like to see your room." Kiron suddenly remembered
some semblance of manners.
"I
am weary, my cousin… as is my guide. If
it's not too much of a bother I should like her room to be relatively close to
mine." Soryn requested.
"Might
I ask why, if you'll permit?" Kiron sent Callista a poisonous look that
plainly told her that she was not welcome under any circumstances. "I think she would find the stables as
fitting as any place else… with my other serfs."
Callista
was one step away from attacking Kiron outright and just taking whatever
consequences came along. Control… control… control…. She repeated
over and over in her head, managing to content herself with an evil glare in
his direction.
Soryn
caught her palpable anger and struck out himself. "Cousin, I am disappointed in your manners. Any fool can see that this fine lady is no
serf. You should respect her as a
master bard, just as you would respect any master of magic."
Kiron
stared at Soryn with obvious surprise, quickly swallowing his words in the face
of his powerful cousin's displeasure.
"I merely meant that perhaps she wouldn't be comfortable in such
surroundings. I meant no offense."
Meant
no offense, my foot. Callie
narrowed her eyes at Kiron in blatant animosity. "You need have no fear of me, sir. I have stayed in some of the most splendid settings in the
grandest kingdoms in the entire realm.
I'm sure your quaint rooms will suffice."
Soryn
sent her a ghost of a smile while Kiron shifted with both apprehension and
barely-concealed rage. "Very well,
I shall have Hycon show you to your rooms immediately." Kiron sputtered,
indicating for his head servant to approach from his unobtrusive spot against
the far wall.
"This
way, Your Grace." The slightly smaller Grey Elf addressed Soryn, pointedly
ignoring Callista's presence in the world.
This
is going to be a long trial… Callista sighed inwardly as she climbed the
stairs to where the rooms for exalted guests were kept.
* * * * *
"Frankly,
cousin… it is I who am surprised at you." Kiron said complacently as he
and Soryn sat by the large fireplace late that night. The servants and serfs had been dismissed, even Callista had
escaped to her room relatively early, no doubt fleeing the displeased and
downright hostile looks and whispered words of the Grey Elves.
"Why,
Kiron?" Soryn asked, wishing he too could escape the oppressive confines.
"I
never thought I would see you defending a little bit of High Elf. What sort of hold does she have over
you?" Kiron asked, eyeing his noble cousin speculatively.
"Whatever
are you talking about? I hired her as a
guide and as a bodyguard of sorts… my route will take me through an undead
haven called Phantom's Cliff. She's
useful, that's all." Soryn was quick to reply.
"Don't
patronize me, Soryn. I saw the way you
rushed to her rescue when I suggested she stay in the stables. And the way she looks at you…" Kiron
rubbed at his temples in frustration.
"What? How does she look at me?" Soryn all but
jumped on his cousin.
"Like
she'd like to take you out into some field for some lovely High Elf rutting,
I'm sure." Kiron replied with a grimace of distaste. "The clothes that elfling wears… simply
disgraceful. And her hair! Good gods, does she ever run a comb through
that rat's nest? And must she carry
that blasted dagger about everywhere?
Even to the dinner table? She's
naught but a barbaric, licentious, ill-mannered whore! I warn you, cousin… do not let her out of
your sight for one second. I wouldn't
be surprised if she were in your room looking for valuables to steal as we
speak."
Callista
stood outside the door, her amber candle relinquishing only some muffled light
from behind her ivory hand. Her face
crumpled as she listened to the silence following Kiron's cruel comments. She should have known… Soryn thought less of
her than of his lowest dog. One hand
flew to her mouth to stifle the sobs threatening to escape her throat
audibly. Unable to hold her grief in
for long, she fled, leaving her candle behind as she ran down the long
corridor, up a flight of monstrous stairs and down another to her chambers. Once inside, she slammed the door shut and
flung herself on the four-poster bed, sobbing like her heart had just been
broken.
The
only servant who was about paused in the act of knocking on her door in order
to inform her that some people were trying to sleep and didn't appreciate
slamming doors. Even through the thick
wood, he could hear the young High Elf's sobs… poignant enough to melt the
heart of even the stern, old Grey Elf.
He supposed that, in the case of an obviously distraught child, manners
were expandable. With that he sighed
and turned to retreat back to his own bed.
"No,
cousin…" Soryn replied at last, his fingers digging into the velvet
upholstery of his chair in outraged fury.
"You are wrong. Callista is
none of those things. I've found her to
be intelligent, courageous, sweet-hearted, and compassionate."
"She's
a worthless High Elf, Soryn. Therefore,
she is not deserving of your respect.
How do you know that she isn't just attaching herself to you in order to
gain your money or your spells? She
might even be after these jewels you seek.
You said that she has the maps and they're in a language that only she
can read… how do you know that she's not leading you in circles to fatten her
savings up? How do you know she won't
kill you in your sleep or poison your food and steal all you own?"
"She
saved my life!" Soryn yelled, startling his cousin by abruptly rising from
his chair and standing over him like an enraged drow. "She shot a dreadwolf that was a hair-breadth away from
ripping my throat out. She pulled me
unconscious and near dead from a river, risking her own life to save mine. She has made sure that no harm befalls me as
I finish what my father started."
He
paused, placing his hands on the arms of Kiron's chair and leaning into his
face, his eyes molten with anger.
"And you have the audacity to sit there complacently and try to
convince me that she merely wants my money?
She's not like that, Kiron.
Callista is an honorable, good-hearted, and honest elf, no matter what
her race. And you'd best remember that
next time you attempt to put her down, whether she is around or not."
Without
waiting for any reply, Soryn straightened and left the room, heading angrily
for his own chambers and bed. He paused
outside, perplexed by the appearance of a lit candle where there had not been
one before. Upon closer inspection, he
recognized the light as being different from Kiron's regular candles of pure
white wax. This candle was an
amber-pale in color, made from beeswax…
One
of Callista's candles, no doubt. Oh no…
did she hear Kiron's insults? My
silence afterwards must have chased her off.
Judging by the little amount of wick left, she had certainly not been
present to hear his own long-winded defense in her favor. Ah, but why was he concerned at all? Callista had never taken any of his somewhat
more mild insults to heart, why would she do so with Kiron's?
He
shook his head to clear it, picking up the candle and heading for his bed,
sorely tired by now. Once in his own
corridor, he heard the vague sounds of someone crying. Attempting to ignore it, he continued on his
way. As he passed Callista's door, the
sound became clearer… her voice, once lifted in song, but now strained
by heart-wrenching tears. Suddenly, as
he stopped and rested his head against the cool surface of the door, he knew
that not only had his Callista heard Kiron's abusive comments, but she had
indeed taken them to heart. His long
silence, during which he had been trying to compose himself, must have been
taken as quiet agreement. She now
thought that he was just like his narrow-minded cousin.
Damnation…
why should I care what she thinks of me?
She is merely my servant! He growled to himself, leaving her door
although his heart screamed to stay and maybe comfort her. He continued his angry path to his own door,
quickly locking himself within.
He
sighed, leaning with his back against the wall. But… I do care how she sees me. He could tell
himself that he was above her all he wanted, but it wasn't true. This cheerful High Elf, who now lay sobbing
in her room because of his silence, had come into his life uninvited and turned
it upside-down. She had contradicted
everything he'd ever believed about the so-called "lesser"
elves. She'd made him realize exactly
how prejudiced and arrogant he was… and how lonely he was. She was an exquisite female, more than just
tempting to Soryn's sheltered senses, it was no surprise that he was attracted
to her. But it was more than that, she
cared for him as no one had, she made him smile and laugh, she had touched his
soul when he thought that he had closed it off from contact forever.
* * * * *
Callista
awoke early the next morning, the dawn sun barely casting light through the
heavy drapes over her windows. She sat
up slowly, a slight headache tapping at the back of her skull and making her
eyes sting every time she moved them too quickly. Normally, she would have been annoyed by the light-discouraging
curtain, but not today... not the way her head felt. It was no surprise, considering she'd been up most of the night
crying like a babe.
She
rose from the bed slowly, fighting off dizziness as she got to her feet and
approached the large vanity where she'd plopped her packs the night
before. As she rummaged through one
sack, she happened to look up, catching sight of her reflection in the silvered
mirror. Her face, often pale, was now
blotchy and tear-stained, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. Her hair was a taggled mass of strands,
matted from her sleepless night.
"Oh,
yuck." she mumbled, taking a closer look.
Her clothes were rumpled and wrinkled, not to mention they needed a wash
rather badly. Even her hands were
shaking slightly, evidence of her fatigue and distress from the night
before.
Oh
lord... Soryn and his cousin were right!
She did look like a filthy street rat.
She'd always thought that she was attractive before... downright
breath-taking at times... but the creature looking back at her through the
glass was absolutely disgusting.
A
knock at her door made her all but dive into her not-often-used robe of plain
flax-colored linen. Good gods, who on
earth would be up at this hour besides an insomniac? "Who is it?"
"It's
the maid, miss. May I come in?" a
soft voice answered from behind the door.
"Oh...
yes, please." Callista sighed.
Years of experience on the road fighting kobolds and ogres, and now she
was getting startled by a grey elf maid.
The
young servant entered, looking at Callista warily but with a hint of curiosity
as well. "I heard you moving about
and I thought maybe you would need my services. Might I get you anything?" she asked respectfully, the first
bit of such consideration she had received yet.
"You
sweet thing... thank you so much. Could
I possibly trouble you to draw me a bath?
I'm still dirty from traveling and such. And I need something to wash my clothes in too." Callista
smiled at the shy-faced maid.
"I'll
fetch some hot water for you, miss. But
you needn't do your own laundry... we have servants specialized in that. Do you have other clothes to wear while your
outfit's being done?"
"Yes…
but my only other outfit might be a little too formal for daywear… it will do
for dinner,but…" Callista shrugged.
"In
that case, I'll also get you a dress too... they may be all day washing your
tunic, their very picky about that sort of thing." the girl smiled back
finally.
"You're
a gem, sweetie... what's your name?" Callista asked.
"I'm
called Meesa." she replied, curtsying slightly.
"Pleased
to meet you... I'm Callista." she extended her hand in friendship.
"You're
the bard, right? The minstrel?"
"That'd
be me."
"Oh
you must sing at dinner tonight!" Meesa was suddenly bouncing up and down
with excitement. "We never get
much entertainment around here... I'm sure master Kiron would allow it for a
little while."
Callista
smiled again. "Sure thing,
Meesa."
"Oh,
thank you! I'll be right back with the
things you requested." she slipped out quickly and Callista listened
distractedly to her retreating footsteps.
An
idea forming quickly in her head, Callista sat at the vanity and began pulling
a brush through her hair to untangle it before her bath. She'd clean up and then she'd wear the Grey
Elf robes that Meesa would bring her.
She seen how the women of the city wore their hair pulled into intricate
knots and tails, she would do the same to an extent. She would modify her High Elf appearance to fit within the Grey
Elven society as best she could, at least within the boundaries of propriety...
but from here on in, her manners and actions would be the pinnacle of High
Elven society; friendly, regal, eager to please, yet very opposed to
unnecessary arrogance. She'd show Soryn
and his cousin who was a filthy whore!
Meesa
returned not five minutes later with both the dress and a large pitcher of
steaming water, behind her followed half a dozen more maids with the same large
jugs. Together, they filled up the
porcelain bath in one corner of the room and set out soap, a washcloth, and a
small bottle of some wine-hued liquid that Callista found was perfume for the
water if she wanted it. The young maid
quickly shooed the other curious girls out and then left herself, leaving the
minstrel to bathe in piece.
Callista
settled in the hot water with a sigh, feeling as though a millions years worth
of dirt were being washed away. She
poured the perfume in liberally and washed and scrubbed her entire body three
times, attacking her hair with the soap and perfume mixture twice and soaking
until the water grew uncomfortably cool.
If she was going to impress Soryn at all, she had better be squeaky
clean! Upon rising from the tub, she
wrapped herself in one of the plush, white towels that a maid had brought in
and made her way back to the mirror.
She
didn't look half bad now. Her eyes were
still a little pink about the edges and her face paler than usual, but the bath
had delivered the desired effect. Her
hair was combed into a long waterfall of dark-brown-almost-black hair that
would lighten to a rich chestnut and curl at the ends as it dried. Her skin, though pale, was a clean and
creamy ivory that showcased her emerald-green eyes beautifully. Beneath the towel, her figure was slender
and curved gracefully from breasts to waist to hips despite her petite stature. Much better, she thought to herself
as she dropped the towel and slipped into the heavy Grey Elf dress, a replica
of Soryn's robe in white velvet with an edging design in gold embroidery. She removed her golden earrings, her leather
boots, and her small strapped dagger, thankfully pulling on the soft, white
slippers that the gown came with. Clean
and dressed at last, she seated herself at the vanity and expertly wove her
hair about and around a thin, gold circlet with a tiny jewel of green resting
right between her eyebrows. Strands of
hair not secured by the circlet were left to curl gently down her back and over
her shoulders.
Well,
Your All Powerfulness, High Mage Soryn Fleethand... you'd be wise to watch
yourself today. The High Elf bard can play many parts and
for this performance, the illustrious Callista Whispersong will play the role
of Diplomatic Representative of the High Elf Race.
* * * * *
Soryn
wandered through the halls of his cousin's home, a heavy text in his hands and
his eyes more concerned with the words written there than with watching where
he went. As a sort of peace offering,
Kiron had shown his cousin to the massive library that morning, insisting that
somewhere on the shelves, a book dedicated to hidden magic artifacts
resided. Soryn had found said book in
record time and was elated to find that an entire chapter was devoted to the
very jewels he sought. As he had
suspected and feared, both jewels were exceedingly well-guarded; one by a
ferocious Red Dragon and the other by a sole griffin with a penchant for
riddles.
"Cousin!"
Kiron's voice succeeded in pulling Soryn from his studies. "Find anything useful?"
"Quite. And I thank you for this most important
volume. Now I know what sort of
creatures we will be up against to receive these jewels." Soryn nodded,
indicating a picture of a Red Dragon.
"Dragons? Griffins?
And I remember you saying something about a Phantom Cliff populated
entirely by the undead? Are you certain
that you're not in over your head, cousin?
Your father died in this quest... and he didn't even come this far. What makes you think that you can
succeed?" Kiron pleaded.
"I
have a competent guide and fighter on my side, cousin." Soryn reminded
him.
"One
puny High Elf against scores of the undead?
She's not immortal, Soryn. I
suggest you abandon this entire mission and return home. Settle down and breed an heir or two with
some suitable maid. It's not important
enough that you risk your life to fetch these trinkets your father could not."
Kiron insisted.
"Hold
your tongue, cousin." Soryn snapped back, still angry with Kiron for the
night prior. "I do not do this of
my own will. The gain of these magical
gems was my father's one wish in life, the ultimate power over all magic. I do this in his memory, to complete his
dream, and nothing short of a strike of lightning will stop me from
trying."
"I
see that you are determined, cousin." Kiron changed his tone to a more
supplicant one. "I am merely
concerned for your safety and for your mother's heart... surely the loss of her
only son so soon after losing her dear mate would be a painful blow."
"I
appreciate your concern, cousin... but I have every reason to believe that I
will succeed in this quest and return safely to Masicus with the gems."
Soryn cut him off. "If you'll
excuse me." He walked away
quickly, leaving his cousin disgruntled and blaming Callista for Soryn's sudden
bout with dangerous spontaneity.
Without
even realizing it, Soryn headed for Callista's room, eager to share his
research with her. He knocked on her
door and was slightly surprised when a maid answered the door. He hadn't heard Callista get up that morning
and had assumed she still slept.
"Is
the bard, Callista, about? I have some
important documentation to show her." he asked the young maid imperiously.
"I
believe she went to the music room, milord.
Said she wanted to study Grey Elf music more closely." the maid
replied politely, curtseying out of respect and never quite meeting his eyes.
"Very
well than... thank you." Soryn turned on his heel and headed in that
direction, resisting the urge to run down the twists and turns on the way to
said music library. Halfway down the
correct hallway, a voice he knew well wrapped around his heart and mind,
drawing him closer no matter what.
Callista's voice was raised in the sweet ballad sung at Grey Elf
betrothal ceremonies and weddings, her pure tones invoking far more in Soryn's
mind than the composer ever intended.
He
opened the door to said room and his breath caught in his throat. In front of him stood a vision so beautiful
that even his heightened senses reeled.
This intoxicating mirage looked like a Grey Elf maiden and he would have
thought her such if not for the wealth of chestnut brown hair flashing red in
the bright sunlight pouring in from the large windows. Callista wore the gown of a Grey Elf
noblewoman in soft white with golden embroidery along the hems and the
neckline. Her eyes were shining and
clear as they studied the music book in her hands, their color reflected and
enhanced by the tiny green jewel dangling from her circlet on her
forehead.
She
stood in front of a large piano, her left side to him, facing the wall made up
entirely of windows. The sunlight shone
brilliantly through the crystal clean glass and sparkled in her hair and
eyes. In her green tunic and leather
boots, he could convince himself that she was a lesser elf, little more than a
savage… but like this, modestly dressed and yet still the most desirable female
he’d ever had the misfortune to encounter.
He
coughed lightly when the song finished to alert her to his presence. She turned quickly, slightly startled, and
snapped the music book in her hands shut.
“Soryn! I didn’t notice you there.” She
exclaimed. “Did you need something?”
The
book… in his preoccupation with her altered appearance, he’d nearly forgotten
why he had sought her out. “I found
this tome in the library… there’s a chapter dealing with the stones we’re after
and on the creatures guarding them.”
“And?”
she asked expectantly.
“Two
dragons guard our first gem and a riddling griffin guards the other.” He
replied in a grave voice. “Any ideas?”
“The
griffin shouldn’t be too difficult, although riddles were never my strong suit…
not figuring them out anyway. However,
the dragons may be tough customers.” She approached him and reached for the
book, which he handed over. “Does it
mention how old the dragons may be, or what kind?”
“What
does that have to do with anything?” he asked in a slightly irritated tone.
“A
very young dragon, just out of the nest would be easier to sneak by or
trick. A dragon in its prime will be
very aggressive, even as dragons go. An
older one, may also be slightly easier to trick.” She supplied with academic
detachment. “Certain kinds of dragons
are benevolent and others are cruel.
Some are more clever than others and some may be have to fight rather
than trick.”
“You
mean, we may not fight it?” he asked, now worried.
“Not
unless you really want to find an early grave.
Dragons like this can defeat entire armies of men with the best weapons
and magic… two elves with a sword and a staff between them aren’t going to
amount to much in an offensive plan.
Stealth is our best bet… do you happen to know an invisibility spell?”
she demanded.
“Yes…
I can keep it steady for about an hour, maybe two.” He nodded. “For the two of us… about half of that.”
“I
don’t need you to do that, thank you… I have my own invisibility spell to use,
though probably not as powerful or as long.” She shook her head.
“You
know an invisibility spell?” he repeated.
“You can use magic?”
“Of
course I can, I’m a bard. It sort of
goes with the trade.” She shrugged.
“Why
have you never used it before?”
“I
find that for defense, my bow is more accurate than my spells and far more
practical. Why use a serious spell like
Fire Bolt when a simple arrow will do the trick without wasting energy?” she
offered. “Not to impugn what you use…
from what I’ve seen, your magic is the finest skill you’ve got. Indeed, the finest I’ve seen anyone have in
my travels.”
“Thank
you.” He whispered, uncertain as to why his heart skipped a beat at her
compliment. Many teachers and tutors
had said the same of him before… but he expected it from them. From his flighty little bodyguard, it meant
far more.
“So
what does the book say about the dragons?” she reminded him.
“Oh…
it says that they are a well-known pair called The Dueling Dragons. Both are fairly old and one is a fire dragon
and the other is an ice dragon.” He read carefully, trying the gauge her
reaction.
“Ah
yes, the Dueling Dragons. Well, if the
tales I’ve heard are a good resource, the fire dragon will be a nasty
customer. The ice dragon may not be as
bad as we think.” Callista nodded thoughtfully.
“Mightn’t
it?” Soryn questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Ice
dragons aren’t interested in biting our heads off. We may be able to reason with the ice dragon.” She sighed, taking
the book from him slowly to scan its pages.
“Are
you serious?” Soryn asked with a hopeful look in his golden eyes.
“Quite. Although I would suggest tackling the fire
dragon first. He might be more than
slightly miffed by our presence.” She mentioned, licking the tip of her finger
and flipping the page.
“Miffed? What do you mean by miffed?”
“He
may incinerate first and ask questions later.” She quipped, missing Soryn’s
paled expression.
On to Part Three (coming soon)