Chapter Eleven

AFTER THE PASSING OF SEVERAL MOONS , we rode into Renedith, with Tezen sitting between Atreil’s pricked ears

I had never entered the city with a contingent of purge clerics before and, in all honesty, I hoped to never do so again

The common people of Melowynn gave the bald clerics a wide berth for their reputation far preceded them

I’d found them to be distant, unwilling to engage in talk of any kind other than that which pertained to their tasks

They did offer to cast a spell upon the body of Maverus to slow its decay as we had been bid to report to Umeris before heading to the woodlands to offer the son of Beirach to the goddess.

My lover took a goodly time to ponder the offer as it was a slight deviation from our ways

One did not play with death

When it came, the body was anointed, wrapped, and taken to the celestial grove within a day of the passing

Finally, a full day after the offer had been made, he relented

Only, I felt, due to the summons to appear before Umeris and before we attended to any other druidic inanity

Those were the words on the final missive Nin delivered to us as we picked our way down the mountainside.

After that offer, the purge clerics split off from us

They made haste to Renedith while we rode to see Bissori home and check on my brother.

Once we were seated and had some soup before us, the tale of our adventure told, did I recall the missive from Umeris

Inanity

I was still bristled like a dog whose bone had been pilfered and began stalking about the small home of Agathe, my brother sitting at the table, filled with soup and bread, joining in with my tirade

Eldar was still in no shape to travel, but his distaste for the city elves’ ways was in prime condition

As was his eye for pretty young women

It seemed he had made a friend of a meek young miss who lived with her family just down the dirt lane

A poor lass with a kind smile, bright red hair, and ears as round as a river rock

Her name was Esther, and she raised chickens, then bartered the eggs with the other villagers.

Eldar was content to convalesce with Agathe and Bissori for another few weeks

I imagined his eagerness to linger in the tiny human village had more to do with the chicken tender and less to do with his mangled bones

Beirach and I vowed we would come for him when we returned to the Verboten, but he waved us off

Beirach spun a healing spell over him to hasten the knitting of the bones which Eldar thanked him for

We spent the night with Agathe and Bissori, too exhausted to do more than wash off in a basin, then fall into a sound sleep

Sadly, the steam hut was occupied that night by a swine tender and his wife, who were celebrating the anniversary of their wedding vows fifty-three seasons ago

My beloved and I had no wish to intrude on such a romantic evening for the human couple, so we snuggled instead

Soon we would have time to learn more about each other with leisure.

After leaving my brother and our friends behind, I wondered if Eldar and Esther would fall in love, wed, and live in the forest or stay here with her chickens and the rice patties

It would be the first time anyone in our family settled with a human

I spent much of my time on horseback sneaking glances at Beirach and wondering how our futures would intertwine

He had said he wished to be with me, but would that longing last a lifetime? Would my family fully accept him, given his mixed blood and his relationship to the man who had cursed them?

There was no way to know.

Only the goddess viewed the future, and she was not known to share that with anyone other than her chosen priestesses

Perhaps I could ask my mother to seek a divine answer when we visited them next

I’d gotten several ravens over our trek back to Renedith from my village

Most had recovered from the stone curse without incident

There was rumor that some that had been stricken with the curse via touch had not recovered, the curse seeping into their internal organs and petrifying them

The purge clerics had been confused over the secondary touch deaths as well

They planned to do studies

I did not ask what that meant, for I assumed it had to do with dissection of those who had fallen to the curse

Our goddess forbade cutting open the body or removing organs to place them in jars for later study

The dictates of our goddess said that the body must be whole when it is presented to her

As much as I did my best to adhere to Danubia and her teachings, I felt that medical studies should be encouraged

One could learn much from the examination of internal biology

Perhaps that was just one of many things that we could learn from the city elves as they learned from us

It was a dream I hoped would blossom when Aelir ruled the vills

I would certainly do my part to further a more robust exchange between woodland elves and urban elves.

It was as if thinking of Aelir Stillcloud called him forth from the ether

We had just ridden into the inner bailey, our steeds anxious to be curried, fed, and watered, when I heard my name being shouted

I had barely planted my dusty boots to the ground when a whirlwind of blond hair ran at me, arms cinching around my middle

We staggered back a step. Aelir’s face pressed into my grimy leather armor.

“You’re home, you’re finally home!”

the lad cried openly into my chest.

I wrapped him in a hug, uncaring that most of the castle staff watched the display.

I should be bowing to the young heir, not cradling him to me as if he were a common elf, or worse, an elf with green skin.

Tough tits as Tezen would want to say.

Let the wrath of Umeris fall on me.

I cared not.

I had missed the boy terribly. Tears welled in my eyes as we held each other. “Grandfather said it was below me to worry over a servant, but I prayed to your goddess every night because I didn’t think our god would listen to prayers about a forest elf. I’m sorry. Please don’t tell anyone.”

I ran my hand over his long golden hair. “You know your secrets are safe with me.”

I pulled back to smile down at the boy as I placed my hands on his shoulders and then, since all eyes were on us, bowed my head in respect.

“Ugh, I hate that. Don’t bow. It’s stupid. When I’m in charge, I’m going to outlaw bowing. And dance lessons. Did you know that Grandfather brought in a dance tutor from the capital? Can you hex her into a toad?”

I laughed aloud at the boy, my sight touching on V’alor Silverfrond, grinning at me as he stood a respectful distance.

“My skills do not include hexing dance instructors into toads,”

I told Aelir, releasing him so I could shake the hand of his bodyguard. “It is good to see you again, V’alor. I trust my charge has kept you on your toes in my absence?”

“He has. I did not realize how much of his energy you burned up during your nature walks. The blisters on my feet are much relieved to see you home once more. As am I.”

I nodded at the kind words from the handsome elf in bright copper armor. “My thanks, it is good to be home.”

I heard the buzz of wings beside my ear and turned to peer at Tezen, flitting anxiously beside my head. My gaze moved to Beirach seated on his gelding, the body of his son resting on the same travois we had moved Eldar on. The staff in the bailey were unsure of this massive man in black bark armor smiling down on them. He did not realize what a striking visage he made on horseback, his auburn hair ruffling in the wind.

“Hey, can you introduce us?”

Tezen interjected into my admiration of my lover.

“Yes, my apologies. Lady Tezen Plumwax this is Aelir Stillcloud, heir to the vills of Renedith.”

Tezen curtsied in midair, then darted up to hover in front of V’alor’s surprised face, pulling a giggle from Aelir. “And this is V’alor Silverfrond, royal protector of the heir of Renedith.”

“Gods be damned, you are a fine-looking man,”

Tezen announced, then licked her sharp teeth lasciviously. “If you were smaller, or I were bigger, I would eat you up like a toasted sugar tart.”

“I, uhm…your ladyship, it is my pleasure,”

V’alor croaked, bowed, and moved to Beirach, who had hit the ground with a soft thud and was now bowing courteously to young Aelir. I stepped over to stand beside Beirach and took his hand as he straightened.

“This is Elder Beirach Dreyath, archdruid in service of the goddess Danubia,”

I announced, so all in the bailey, from maids to patrolling guards, could hear. “He and Lady Tezen aided in ending the stone curse among the druids, thus ensuring that the woodlands would sustain Melowynn for many generations to come.”

A small round of applause broke out, making Beirach blush and Tezen swoop high and low in the air to receive the accolades.

“We are most fortunate to have such mighty warriors visiting us,”

V’alor said and turned to Aelir, who was now grasping my left hand. “Perhaps you would wish to say something to the heroes who ended the life of a vile necromancer?”

I glanced at Beirach. What V’alor had said was true but hurtful to the father of said vile necromancer. The man who owned my heart merely smiled a little less strongly.

“Widow Poppy is making a huge feast in your honor! I told Grandfather that returning heroes always had feasts, and he said we could have one, but just this once as throwing a fete for those who don’t follow the ways of wisdom was not to be condoned. I think he just needs to eat more olives and eels to loosen his bowels. Surely that would make him less irritable. You always said eels freed the viscus.”

Beirach, Tezen, and V’alor chuckled. I blushed to the tips of my ears. “That is speaking only from my personal perspective. I’m sure the grand advisor has most congenial innards.”

“I don’t know,”

Aelir said with a shrug. “He always looks like his guts are filled with flatulence. Come with me to the badger’s den! V’alor wouldn’t allow me to visit it while you were gone, and I’m sure she has had her cubs by now!”

“My grace, your grandfather wishes to see Kenton and his companions in the southern solarium. Perhaps they should do that then. After they rest and wash up, Kenton can be persuaded to take you to the den, provided the feast hasn’t begun yet.”

“Fine,”

the lad huffed. “Let me take you to the solarium, but can you talk fast so we can see if Mother Badger is a mother yet?”

“We will speak as quickly as we can,”

I assured the lad. Aelir then gave my hand a tug.

Beirach pulled V’alor aside. They spoke in hushed whispers, then V’alor waved at a pair of bailey guards lingering about trying to speak to the washer maids. The twosome untied the travois and carried the body of Maverus into the castle proper, heading down into the dungeons where it was cooler.

“You may go with him if you wish,”

I called over my shoulder, but Beirach shook his head and fell into step with us.

“So, V’alor, what are the qualifications for joining the royal guard?”

Tezen asked as we entered the castle, trailing behind an energetic boy with sticky fingers, dirty knees, and the smell of sunshine and sweat on his skin, which is just how young boys should be.

“Well, one requires a stout heart, a good sword arm, and a willingness to give their life to protect those who rule the vills,”

V’alor replied as we entered the castle, the familiar sights of servants bustling about, the shine on the stone floors, and the rich smell of meat on the spit made me smile inwardly. While I would not choose to call this keep my home, it had been for many years, and I found a deep fondness for the castle and those who dwelled in it had grown in my absence.

“I have all of those! Plus, I can handle my ale!”

Tezen exclaimed as we wound our way through the castle to find the solarium. The glass and wood doors were closed, two guards posted on either side as always.

“Then when you are done with the grand advisor come seek me out in the barracks. We will speak in-depth about your qualifications,”

V’alor said to the pixie darting back and forth before us. “For now, we shall leave you to your audience. Aelir, come with me. It is time for your dancing lessons with Madame Woodbreeze.”

The young heir rolled his eyes and sighed forlornly. “I’d much rather visit the badger den,”

he mumbled before giving me one last strong hug, then shuffling off with his ever watchful guard at his side.

I turned to look at Beirach and Tezen. We looked as if we had just ridden for days with no soap. We smelled of horse sweat and elf sweat, and our clothes were covered with grit.

“I know we do not look our best but have no worries. This will be a short visit where he will praise us and then send us off.”

“Wouldn’t have minded a minute to scrub my tuppy before being paraded past this old goat,”

Tezen muttered. The guard to my left choked back a snicker.

“Umeris is not known for his patience,”

I said and ran a hand over my dusty armor and tried to brush some of the dirt from my braids. It was not exactly successful.

“He is ready for you,”

the guard who had choked off a laugh told us, tugging open the solarium door.

Beirach was incredibly quiet.

I could pick up nothing of his thoughts.

My head was too filled with the crush of incoming dialog from every creature and plant within the castle.

I’d learned to sort through the onslaught somewhat on the journey back to Renedith.

I had a long way to go to fully control the rush of dialog that seemed to be present all the time.

I’d never known sheep in the pasture were such gossips or that the ravens in the rookery had so much to say about the quality of their corn mash.

I could not wait to get home, to the woods, and study a bit under the elder druids who communed with animals.

Beirach, as skilled as he was, had no words of wisdom for me.

His skills lay more in healing, shifting into an elk for battle, and kissing away the frown lines that appeared when we rode past cattle complaining about the milkmaid’s cold hands.

“Come in and be quick about it,”

Umeris called from where he sat upon a settee, his robes dark blue with white stitching, his hair smooth as a morning lake, falling down to his ankles and resting on the floor artfully. The plants all began to speak to me, the flowers opening wider, the vines reaching out to touch me, all asking for more water, more sun, and more air.

I drew a deep breath, my nose wrinkling, and shoved the ideations to one side. Doing so helped, nominally.

Beirach touched my lower back, his hand slipping under my armor to rub a circle. His touch did wondrous things to me. I calmed and focused on corralling the plants wants into a smaller space that I could attend to later. Umeris would not be put off so that I could converse with the bright yellow roses about aphids.

“Are you well?”

Beirach asked in a whisper as we walked carefully around pots of imported plants that all seemed cranky today.

“The roses are upset about aphids,”

I relayed and got a smile from Beirach.

“As well as they should be,”

he replied, removing his hand from my back. I missed his warmth instantly. Umeris sat on his settee, papers and scrolls on either side of him, his gaze flitting between the three of us as we stopped and bowed respectfully.

“So, you have returned. The clerics informed me the curse has been ended. The body of the dark mage who acted against our people is in our dungeon and will be incinerated by night’s end, and the king has—”

“Grand Advisor, I cannot allow you to burn the body of my son,”

Beirach spoke up, his shoulders squaring as Umeris drew back in surprise. “Our goddess demands the body be placed in the arms of the trees for her to claim. We would have done so before coming to your vills, but your summons to see us overrode the trip back to the Verboten.”

Tezen sat on my shoulder, a thin white braid in her hands, mumbling something in pixie that I could barely hear.

Umeris ran a hand over his long face.

“I find this practice of throwing the deceased into trees to rot wholly unsettling and foolish.

But, as it is your way, I will grant you that boon.

I will not have the necromancer left alone, though.

There have been wizened dark mages who can create deep sleeps that they cast upon themselves to mimic death.

His body will be placed under a protective spell while it is in my vills.

Then on the morrow, you will remove it from my home and take it into the woods where you may toss it wherever you wish. Does this please you and your goddess, Archdruid Dreyath?”

I grunted at the discourteous tone and got a sour look from Umeris. Tezen gave my plait a sound yank.

“It does. Many thanks for your wisdom and acceptance of the ways of other faiths,”

Beirach said with humility and practiced ease. I would need him to teach me how to be so calm when dealing with people like Umeris Stillcloud. “I shall leave in the morning with my son and see him properly laid to rest.”

Umeris nodded and turned his sharp gaze to me. “You have done well in ending this situation. The king has been informed of your work and wishes to pass along a reward to you and those who rid Melowynn of a malevolent being. Each member of your party will be given a thousand gold pieces for their service to our most cherished cousins, who call the woodlands home.”

“That is most generous of his majesty,”

I replied and got a curt nod. I’d not heard my people called “cherished cousins”

in an age but took the kindness as I hoped it had been intended. “I would ask that Bissori and Agathe Bronmura of the town of…” I looked at Beirach in loss. “What is the name of the hamlet they call home?”

“I am not sure it has a proper name as small as it is,”

he replied earnestly. “The dwarves that come down from the Witherhorn call it Vuldam so that is as good a name as any.”

Umeris seemed wholly unimpressed.