Intrigues On the Isle (part four)
Neither Taureth nor the trainer heard a faint, tinkling laugh from deeper within the Refuge’s rough base camp, though several perplexed refugees gave the hulking barbarian producing it strange looks. The huge blond woman merely grinned broadly as she strode thru the stone archway opposite to the beach exit. She wove through the wooden stakes set deep in the ground to spit any goblin fool enough to charge the barricade and was out among the goblins themselves who scuttled out of her way in fear, recognizing the figure as a potential danger. As the barbarian purposefully walked through the goblin totems in the most heavily forested of the Isle’s contested land, her toned and rounded form shimmered and shrunk. As the last of the magic drifted away, a delicate koada’dal maiden with hair the color of night swaying in long plaits made her way across a rickety wooden bridge, stopping when the distant forms of a robed man and a skeleton came into view. She scowled and then sat on the edge of one of the railings with an impatient sigh, settling in to watch the strange pair from a distance.
The robed male was tall for a high elf, and as pale as the refugee delivered by the Far Journey. Identical blue eyes stared down at the outpost through the doorway of the ancient stone wall with an ingrained, narrow-eyed glare perfected over centuries of disappointment and discontent. A cold breeze swept across the back of his thin neck despite the warm evening, ruffling the ends of his severely cut hair and raising the small hairs like an announcement of death come to the party. The meager warning was more than enough to prevent him from jumping at the sound of an exotically accented soprano at his elbow.
"So solemn koada’dal. Do you ever smile?" The robed figure stiffened, but didn’t turn to face the skeleton that had stepped out of the deepening evening shadows. The creature moved closer revealing more of its gruesome visage, bare bones a dull yellow with age, as it joined the taller being. "Will you at least have the courtesy to look me in the eye as we converse, or have Tunare’s scions lost their manners as well as their homeland?" it teased. The elf turned, narrow features held a grimace of disgust.
"Then rid yourself of that loathsome guise. It is difficult for our eyes to meet when you have naught but sockets," the high elf snarled. He was treated to the disturbing sight of the fleshless jaw pantomiming a smile.
"As you wish, dear foe." The melodic voice held a smile and contrasted with the macabre form producing it. Suddenly the high elf faced not an undead monster, but a tiny dark elf woman with dark hair and a heart-shaped face twisted in a smirk. "Like what you see?" she purred as she moved to stand almost on his feet.
"Funny" he growled as he hastily stepped back. "Now say whatever it is you came to say." She beamed at him cheerfully. The high elf’s already stiff posture became ramrod straight and he almost radiated pride.
"I have news you’ll want, sir wizard. The high elf sniffed disdainfully.
"What news of yours could possibly interest me, necromancer?" he sneered. The koada’dal had turned to face her fully, belying his scornful words. Her smile widened to a sharp toothed grin.
"Taureth has returned," the dark elf said sweetly. The wizard turned even paler and set a shaking hand against one crumbling wall on his left, leaning on it as if about to collapse. Silence reigned for long minutes until the high elf choked out his reply.
"What?" he finally gasped, still leaning heavily against the wall. A triumphant smirk answered him.
"You know, Taureth, your long dead father?" The necromancer’s tinkling laugh was as sharp as a knife. "I know you’ve been skulking around Refuge looking for your precious brother," she said in a voice dripping with contempt. "Did it not occur to you that your father might return to Norrath as well?"
"And how do you know all this tier’dal?" he demanded, finally straightening and releasing his grip on the battered stone. The dark elf’s smile was cold and patronizing.
"I am one with the dead, remember? I know these things." The wizard’s smile was more a snarling baring of teeth than a pleasant expression.
"Obviously not about all of the dead," was his quick rebuttal. The woman’s smug expression morphed into a glower.
"Meaning?" Her voice betrayed no concern but her attitude had gone from flirtatious and mocking to defensive within the space of moments. The wizard’s smile was as mocking as the dark elf’s had been.
"Do give Dreadskull my regards, lady Selinya." He paused significantly before continuing. "Assuming of course that you ever find him. It will be a pleasure to dispose of your husband again." The high elf turned to gaze through the archway down the rocky hillside again, casually ignoring the treat of the angry necromancer behind him. "Of course, that’s if Taureth doesn’t repay the debt himself," he said nonchalantly, glancing over his shoulder at the now empty space behind him. He smiled coldly to himself, before muttering a word of magic that left the doorway deserted.
The koada’dal maiden perched on the handrail of the bridge hopped down at the disappearance of the robed figures. She ignored the cringing goblin guards as she crossed the rickety wooden bridge and her way up the slight hill, weaving gracefully through the underbrush and obstructing boulders. The fragile looking high elf glanced around the deserted area and then addressed the empty air in the doorway.
"You do realize I can see you, right?" She smiled a little too broadly to be genial. "But then, I could always see right through you, sir wizard," she chirped, smile widening to a merry grin. The empty space she spoke to warped and shifted as it filled with a humanoid form. The pallid male’s stony expression did little to dampen his companion’s mirthful look. "Guess who I saw?" she practically sang. She grinned gleefully as the wizard continued to glare silently. ""Here, let me give you a hint: it wasn’t your brother!"
"My father has set foot on Refuge," the man stated frostily, without even a hint of a smile for the maid’s crestfallen gaze. "You’ve seen him I suppose, instead of prattling about yet more gossip?" His doubtful glance met her irritated one as she huffed indignantly, spine stiffening.
"Don’t get smart with me, Siriln Starfire! Or should I use Siriln Taurethion, since your wonderfully moralistic father is around here somewhere?" She traded his glare for a sneer of her own. "I suppose the bone pile told you then?" After a moment she poked him in the ribs, gaining another glare. "Well?" she challenge, ignoring the foul look directed at her. A stiff nod finally answered her.
"Selinya brought the news… but that alone is cause for suspicion." He sighed deeply at the other elf’s blank look of confusion. "Think Luutha. Why should that crow of Innoruk do me such a favor, with no love lost between us? By Tunare’s crown, we would gladly slay each one another if other matters didn’t stand in the way!" She frowned thoughtfully, absent-mindedly twisting a lock of hair escaped from her braid.
"Well," she said after a few minutes had passed, "perhaps she wishes to gloat over Taureth’s uh, reduced state." Luutha raised a hand defensively as if to ward Siriln’s glare. "Well if you’d watched him all afternoon, as I have, you’d know something’s wrong with him. He couldn’t even lift a broadsword; he very nearly killed himself trying to swing it! "Actually…" she paused, eyes narrowing, "actually, he’s as tall as he ever was, but wherever he’s been, they’ve been starving him. Your father’s at least fifty pounds lighter than he was; he’s closer to your size than your brother’s for once."
"And you would know this if you’d not been skulking up here all day!" she snapped suddenly. "Instead, you’re too busy meeting with the Neriak whore, and dare to snarl at ME after I do all your reconnaissance!" The shocked silence stretched for what seemed to be an eternity before Siriln turned to stare down over the remains of the steps up the rocky hillside.
"I apologize for my ingratitude, milady," he said quietly. "The only excuse I can offer is the level to which this news has disturbed me, though ‘tis a poor reason to be ill-mannered I admit."
"Well, I confess that Taureth’s return was unexpected; I would have sworn he would remain with Tunare. Still-" Luutha began in a rush.
"He is not my father," Siriln interrupted. He proceeded, ignoring her disbelieving expression. "This… creature may look like him, but he is NOT Taureth Paladinson." Luutha wrinkled her nose thoughtfully.
"Well," she said slowly, "I’ll admit he seems a bit off. If nothing else, Taureth-" she rolled her eyes as Siriln insistently shook his head. "This person is clearly out of his depth. He certainly LOOKS like your father, though he’s gone on a diet, and… His mind feels like Taureth. That can’t be disguised, I’d notice!"
"Whoever sent this person thought to make the ruse even better," the other high elf countered. "This being may look like my father, but he certainly doesn’t ACT like him. The wizard’s firm voice allowed no argument. "The wench of Innoruk made certain I knew of this elf’s arrival," he said more softly. "She wants us to welcome this supposed Taureth into the koada’dal community. I can think of no reason that she’d care, except-"
"Except if he’s some sort of agent come to cause mischief, or worse," she finished for him. "A disturbing thought to be sure." Siriln nodded in agreement. "But," she added, "Why Taureth? He wasn’t exactly a high ranking koada’vie; didn’t he get himself demoted, what, five times at least?"
"He had reasons…" Siriln said reluctantly. He grimaced slightly at his own words. "He always had some cursed reason or another for whatever harebrained thing he’d done."
"Exactly!" Luutha exclaimed. "Why send one of the strangest elves Felwithe ever produced? He married a human for Tunare’s sake!" She waved away any debate. "These youngling refugees may step over that line time and again, but while Felwithe stood? Your father does not blend." Siriln took a deep breath, caught between agreement and the urge to defend his kin.
"Which is what makes him the perfect candidate," he finally replied. The enchanter stared at him in disbelief. "Who better to send than someone known for their peculiarity?" Luutha blinked at him for several moments before responding.
"I don’t buy it," she stated flatly. The maiden almost jumped back as rage twisted her cohort’s sharp features.
"I think I would know my own father!" he snarled. "Don’t you think I want my kin back?" He glared at her nearly threateningly.
"Of course you do," she soothed. Siriln continued to scowl for a second and then began to visibly relax. He leaned against the weathered stone behind him, gazing unseeingly at the huge tree housing the goblin chief ruling this part of the isle. "But not your father," Luutha muttered to herself. The koada’dal man spun around, but she gazed at him with curious innocence.
"He can’ be allowed to simply mingle with the refugees," he stated emphatically. "We must stop him. For the safety of the refugees," the wizard added as an afterthought.
"Of course," was her sarcastic reply. "How do you propose to deny him entry to Castleview, oh learned one? Kill him perhaps? I didn’t sign on to be a murderess, and don’t you even try and call it justified when you let that- that ulunn roam free," she declared sharply. Siriln stared at her aghast and shook his head in denial so hard that he saw spots.
"No!" he cried. "Do you think I would do such a thing?" He hastily threw up a hand to forestall any response. "Nay, do not answer that, leave me that bit of blissful ignorance at least." Siriln drew a steadying breath. "We need to separate him from the incoming refugees, not cull him. Your contacts in the village can handle that I trust?" Luutha slowly shook her head.
"No, I won’t interfere." She waved a finger as the wizard started to protest. "Unless… you make certain that he isn’t Taureth. I have no wish to face the Mother’s wrath if you are wrong, and blocking Her plans would certainly invite that." Siriln glared, but threw up his hands in resignation.
"Fine! But you will help watch him, if we test him as well. Agreed?" The enchanter smiled sweetly at Siriln’s scowling face.
"Agreed. And we’d best hurry if we’re going to catch the next ship to Qeynos." Luutha picked up the skirt of her robe and started picking her way down the ruins of the ancient staircase. Halfway down the incline she stopped and looked up at the unmoving wizard. "Well?" she inquired.
"I have unfinished business here on the island. I will leave the arrangements in Qeynos in your capable hands." His gaze drifted from the frowning elf woman to settle on the brightly lit outpost beyond the bay. She frowned at him, then shrugged and continued her slow descent.
A/N Don't own any of Norrath, including places and people and any other Sony property, this is just a bit of fan fiction, so please don't sue. For those who like languages, ulunn is from Tolkien's Sindarin and means a hideous or foul creature. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Lueinu for letting me play with her necromancer Selinya, I finally got it written down (and Dreadskull's name finally came up, whoot)! Thank you also to Elyntari for reading the draft over; you helped make the hardest section of the story a bit better :) .