Lurking Within (part three)
Taureth had hoped the ship would dock quickly, but was doomed to disappointment. Instead half the crew had taken part in a yelled debate concerning mooring lines and something called drakota (Taureth had lost track of what was happening after the third or fourth arr), the Far Journey was safely tied to the Island of Refuge’s westernmost dock. The high elf was the first person down the gangplank and almost tumbled onto the beach in his haste.
Taureth was the only passenger to disembark, but he was far from alone on the yellow sand of the beach. Dotting the coastline were other people in clothes as ragged as his own. All seemed intent on their various pastimes and completely ignored the new arrival. Next to the dock a heavily pierced young man with improbable blue hair swept up into a stiff crest and slightly pointed ears that proclaimed him a half elf was hunting giant crabs. The rough club in his hand struck the crustaceans shells with a resounding CRACK. A bit further down a tiny, blond gnome waded in the tide, occasionally casting out a string tied to a simple wooden stick. Taureth wondered briefly if she was the bait before scolding himself for lack of chivalry. He stared around the beach one more time, and then hesitantly started toward the worn stone steps that led through the only break in the great wall of gray stone cutting the bay off from the rest of the island.
"You there! Get over here!" The voice sounded like its owner was used to being obeyed and Taureth looked around for the source curiously. He frowned as he realized that the bearded human was beckoning to him. Slowly he trudged back across the beach and came to a stop in front of the grizzled veteran. "Yes, you!" the human announced with a growl. "Name and occupation?" he barked as he flipped through a few pages of ripped parchment. The high elf stared at him in unconcealed confusion.
"Well my name is Taureth Paladinson and I am a paladin of Tunare and a defender of Felwithe, but-" The human cut him off with a sharp gesture as he scrawled something indecipherable on the paper with a stubby piece of charcoal. He paused and looked up, a deep frown etched on the hard lines of his face.
"A fighter, eh?" His doubtful glance swept over Taureth’s wasted form and his frown intensified. "Bit skinny for it if you ask me. When did you train last?" The high elf considered the man thoughtfully before replying.
"What year is this?" he finally asked. The other man burst out with a raucous howl of laughter. The gut-shaking mirth eventually died down and he grinned at the koada’dal.
"Been that long, has it? Well, let’s start you off slow then. Grab that sword and let’s see your swing." The trainer (Taureth finally decided) waved a calloused hand at a weapon rack filled with a variety of arms, including a massive sword taller than a dwarf stood. The paladin shrugged and casually attempted to yank the bastard sword off the rack, staggering suddenly under its great weight. He stared at it in surprise and then yanked harder, finally freeing the blade.
Taureth frowned as he carefully swung it in a slashing motion in front of him, gradually expanding the range of motion. Giving his first confident swing, the elf lost his grip on the hilt and the sword flew backwards, ending its unplanned voyage with a resounding THUNK. Taureth followed the trainer’s shocked gaze, wincing at the sight of the still quivering sword half lodged in the wooden pier behind them.
"Bit outta practice I see", the human finally said. "Maybe you have other skills we could put to use?" he inquired hopefully. The high elf numbly shook his head.
"Nay… I had some training in healing, but was far less skilled in it than in arms." The answer was distracted, as he gazed blankly at the embedded sword and his mind raced in circles.
WEAK?! one part of his mind screeched . I threw an anvil across the room before I was full grown and now I can’t even pick up a sword? I picked the captain up in full armor and I have the scars to prove it! Another surge of suffocating panic rose as Taureth’s eyes dropped to his unmarked arms. Gods above! No… no I don’t. Nothing is left of my old life… even Tunare’s healing?
The pale haired koada’dal tried to reach inside himself for the well of power that had always lived within the recesses of his soul. Tunare’s gift his people had always called it. His ability to call healing with no training at all had been widely regarded as a mark of her favor. Sometimes this assumption had been all that had kept him from exile. Stretching his mind to the limit, Taureth found the place deep inside him where the healing energy had always waited.
The warm, reassuring wave was missing but something else lurked in its place, concealed by self-made shadows. Something that felt cunning and secretive as it skirted the edges of his thoughts. From a distance Taureth could hear the human prattling on, but he ignored the noise in favor of lying patiently in wait for the strange thing to come closer.
Gradually the lurking presence drifted closer, moving cautiously to and fro as if studying the waiting elf. He pictured himself holding an imaginary rope, almost feeling it’s weight in his hands as he waited to snag the invader. After a wait that could have been seconds or day, the shadowy form darted closer to his consciousness. He quickly hurled the image of the rope, watching the shimmering line wrap around the darkness and pull it forward. Taureth grabbed it with his off hand, gasping as a tingle shot through it and the mass of shadow melted into and spread thru his form, making it as hard to see as the original shadow.
He came back to himself with a shock, immediately realizing the human had stopped talking and was staring at him. A downward glance showed him why, the yellow beach below driving home the fact that the high elf couldn’t see his own body. With a silent cry he released the shadow presence, but instead of moving away it merely settled deeper, receding from the edges of Taureth’s mind and revealing his body as it retreated.
"Well why didn’t you say you had scout training?" the startled trainer exclaimed. "You’ll be of use to us after all!"
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. Thank you to Nuala for the encouraging words when I needed them the most! This was originally much larger, but I decided to divide it up in Lurking Within and Intrigues on the Isle for clarity and easier reading.