« (Lady Rivanna) »
Lady Rivanna led her retinue into her capital. The town of Whitewater Falls was bedecked with flowers and ribbons. She waved to her people and maintained a gracious smile. Her heart was slightly sore for those who hadn’t returned. Her casualties had fallen hardest on the Tree Runners, their reckless disregard for their own lives meant they were always at the forefront of every assault.
The procession continued through the town growing as the citizens joined in. The procession wound its way to the end of the cliff and turned heading for Clearwater Lake. It finally stopped near the shore of the lake, near to where two Silverleaf trees grew.
Those present bowed their heads in prayer as the Tree Runners helped those of their number who had been crippled or wounded unto death to locations of their choosing. As two Forest Priests directed the abundant mana, the wounded Tree Runners put down roots and changed entering the next stage of their lives.
Even as the new trees grew, on one of the original trees, a large bark covered growth shivered and split, releasing a new Tree Runner, who quickly dropped to the ground and edged his way to join the largest grouping of Runners present.
Lady Rivanna in her persona of Forest Lord led the ceremony welcoming the new trees.
Then everyone bowed their heads again as the gravediggers prepared the final resting places for the fallen warriors amongst the grove of sixteen Silverleaf and eight Ironbark trees and saplings.
Finally, with the setting sun, the elves meandered their way back to town. They were accompanied by many of the runners, but most of these disappeared into the forest.
* * *
Rivanna savoured the last of the new strawberries even as she placed the delicate crystal bowl back on the tray together with the remains of her breakfast. She shoved the tray to the corner of her desk and returned to her paperwork, determined to catch up with the backlog caused by the recent campaign.
All too soon it was time for the morning’s audience. She picked up her coronet and jammed it on her head even as she headed for her audience chamber. She didn’t notice her guards falling in behind her.
She swept through the doors and made her way to the Warden’s throne and took her place. She gestured to her major domo and the audiences started. Most of appellants were fairly standard and easy to deal with. Then she noticed three Runners waiting uneasily for their turn. Rivanna wondered what they wanted. It was very unusual to see one of them in her court as anything but casual visitors or guards.
Finally it was their turn, Rivanna noted that the elder held a live weapon. The boomerang’s eyes watched everything with what she thought was best described as alert boredom. The two younger ones huddled behind their elder fidgeting nervously.
The elder Runner bowed his head in respect. “My lady. We are here to announce the discovery of a young skunk blessed by the Beastlord.”
Rivanna smiled outwardly even as she winced internally. ‘There is going to be infighting to sieze this skunk,’ she thought. ‘I’ll have to gather the hopeful and hope someone jumps out as worthy of the honour. A living boomerang, so that has to be... um... Iron... Ironlea... no, Ironthorn.’
“Thank you Ironthorn, what else can you tell us about this skunk? And I think we will keep his location secret for now.”
“He is young and valiant. He can speak elvish badly and with a terrible accent. He still lives with his dam and two siblings. One at least is a sister, and he risked all trying to defend her.”
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“Very well Ironthorn. Please arrange a discrete guard detail for them while I gather up those who are seeking a familiar. It will not take long, I promise.”
Ironthorn inclined his head again and turned and trotted out of audience chamber followed by the two youngsters that looked to him.
* * *
Rivanna looked through the hidden window into the room. It was empty except for a number of spindly looking upholstered chairs. And one tattered eared scarred tomcat curled up on the one nearest the small fire burning in the brick built fireplace.
“Well cuz, I do hope Slasher will be all right. I don’t know many of the candidates, they arrived from the capital while we were on campaign. You know how Aldrya and her officials are about sending the...”
“The self-centred, self-important and idiots,” said the male standing near Rivanna in a low rumble of a voice.
Rivanna was betrayed into a laugh she hastily disguised as a cough. “Well yes cuz. But really, it doesn’t do to refer to the scions of our nobility as such.”
“True though. Don’t worry Vanna, Slasher is tough and nasty,” added Rivanna’s cousin.
They watched as several young elves filtered into the room. They started taking their places, avoiding the battle-scarred Slasher. The last two to arrive looked to be siblings. The girl entered first followed by her brother. They seemed to be having a low voiced disagreement. The girl looked round the room in disdain and eyed the cat with apprehension. The boy rolled his eyes before smiling slightly. He moved quietly towards Slasher and proffered a finger.
“Well that’s surprising Vanna. I vote for the youngster.”
“You would. Just because Slasher tolerates him is no reason to pick him. Besides he shouldn’t be here, I suspect his sister dragged him along.”
“Well then she erred. Slasher tells me he knows how to scratch an ear to perfection. Isn’t he the one who petitioned the crown to revert the title of his duties to the one in use two centuries ago?”
“Speaker to Others. Yes he is, and Aldrya was delighted, most of the nobles of the court weren’t. She detested Speaker to Animals.”
Rivanna raised a finger to her lips and activated the eavesdropping spell built into the window.
* * *
“... ugh, a skunk... not for me.”
“Not a problem. Just remove the scent glands...”
“That’s stupid!”
“Oh shut it... I don’t know why you’re here anyway. You have a job of sorts.”
Careful not disturb Slasher, the young elf looked up at his hostile audience. He elevated his nose and looked down it with an icy, contemptuous demeanour. “Three reasons,” he drawled slowly. “And that doesn’t even count common decency, which you lot conspicuously lack.”
He was subjected to several hostile remarks.
“One: What intelligent being is going to not resent being mutilated just for the convenience of his master or mistress.”
“Absurd ... it’s just an animal ... who cares what an animal thinks.”
* * *
“Well Vanna, that young lady is out for ever as far as I’m concerned.”
“I tend to agree cuz. But her family is rich and powerful.”
* * *
“Two: It will be your Familiar. What point is there in having a familiar if you can’t trust it? You have to be friends.”
“Stupid... The bonds will force it to obey. Better not to get attached as you will probably have to expend it at some point.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Who cares what happens to a skunk anyway? They stink.”
“Three: Oh what’s the point. Look you idiots; the skunk we are discussing was blessed by the Beastlord. I for one would rather not annoy a God.”
* * *
Rivanna moved to the door and opened it. She entered the room with Berthold the Cunning in tow. The youngsters stopped talking even if about half continued to glare at the youth who was now scratching Slasher under the chin. All that could be heard for a couple of seconds was Slasher’s rusty sounding purr.
« (Refuge - The Raptors) »
Hainrick sat his horse at the head of his party. His face was frozen in disbelief. To their front lay the tree covered ruins of Refuge. The Blue River was low, about a third the size it should be.
Refuge and its fields were gone replaced by the elven forest. Hainrick swung his leg over the back of his horse and dismounted. “We will camp here. We have to investigate. It is imperative we learn what happened to the local Guild office and officials.”
“The elves happened. They will be dead. What can you expect when most of the quests involved plundering the forest of treasures and catching its inhabitants,” asked Faldara Swifthands.
Hainrick cast her a quelling glare. “This proves the point. That dungeon is a force for change. It must be purged.”
“It could be said to be justice boss. This place was evil. The damn assassins had an office here and they often suckle at the tit of the chaos lords.”
“Shut it Faldara. Hainrick is correct. Change on this magnitude is unsettling,” insisted Leo.
The Raptors hobbled their mounts and set up camp. Leaving one of their number to guard their camp the others crossed the Blue and explored the ruins.