Prologue
The pale fog of war, descends across the land.
The light of day stays away, until the dawn approaches
The trees shift their roots, and the crows take the skies.
The swords and shields will unite, and gather for the fight.
The shadows drift around, stretching far and wide.
An eerie sight to be sure, as you awake unwoken.
-The Pale Fog of War-
~Yutora of the Bards ~
Splash! Splash splash…
Seta’s footsteps resounded throughout the courtyard as he ran across the castle grounds. Thinking he couldn't possibly get anymore wet; he had run through the village hoping to reach the castle before becoming completely soaked through.
Unfortunately the rain was leaving the crowded pavestones covered in shallow puddles. Each hurried step sent water cascading out, spraying the people around him as well as himself.
Finally reaching the servants entrance he looked through the doorway trying to be as discrete as possible. Sneaking through the halls he made his way into the kitchen. After looking around he slowly approached the hanging pot above the fire. Lifting the lid, the sweet smell of boiling stew made his empty stomach grumble in anticipation.
“Oy you there!”
Instinctively ducking, he barely missed getting pummeled by a wooden spoon. Sitting on the ground with his back against the wall, Seta covered his head as he was bashed with the wooden spoon over and over.
“How dare you enter my kitchen you thieving brat! What with you carrying a river’s worth of water on you! Do you mean to ruin the grain?”
Looking up, Seta saw his attacker for the first time.
“Its raining outside Aunt Gertrude. Nobody coming inside is going to have escaped it. Besides is it really okay to just be attacking people out of the blue like that?”
“Hmph”
Standing there with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face was Seta’s aunt, a middle aged kitchen maid. She had begun work in the castle in her youth after word of her delicious cooking spread. She was a nice enough woman as long as you weren’t trying to sneak food in-between meal times. Which is exactly what Seta had been doing.
“I have a message to deliver but I thought it would be okay to grab a bite to eat first. I haven’t had anything since I set out yesterday except what I could hunt on the road.”
Grabbing him by the ear Gertrude took him over beside the fire to dry off. Turning back to some herbs she left on the table she grabbed a few of them and walked over to pot to pour them in. Then after shaking her spoon at Seta she finally replied.
“Oh so you was wanting to get some food were ye? Do you know what happens to people who get into the king’s stew without permission?”
“You whack them for no reason with that big spoon.”
“What did you say?”
“N..nothing”
Squinting her eyes in suspicion Gertrude went into the pantry and brought out a slice of bread with some cheese. Placing it on the table she then turned towards preparing the castles evening meal.
“So why are you here anyways? I thought you were supposed to go with all the other village boys to that battle over in the Vale?”
“Like I said I was sent with a message.. It’s for the King what with the results of the battle. It was amazing auntie the elves showed up and did their majics!”
About to take a bite of the cheese wedge, Seta found himself being bowled over as Gertrude grabbed him by the shoulder and began pulling him towards the door.
“Hey what are you doing. I was eating!”
“You can eat after you deliver your message. I know you’re only a whelp but I still can’t believe you were going to wait to deliver important information about the war! How is the king supposed to know what to do if he doesn’t have the latest information?”
Reaching back mournfully to the bread and cheese, Seta regretted his inability to keep hold of it before being drug into the hall.
Arriving at the entrance to the main portion of the castle Gertrude prodded Seta into speaking with the guards standing watch. After giving the password he was entrusted with Seta announced why he sought an audience with the king. Seta was sized up but the guards following procedure relayed the message. Within minutes the king had been informed and his court gathered in the great hall for his arrival.
Guided through the halls by one of the guards, Seta's mind returned to the important matter on hand. With his aunt returning to her kitchen, he doubted she would be convinced to allow him the chance to eat anytime before the evening meal.
Arriving at a huge ornate door the guard announced their entrance. Entering this wing of the castle was a first for Seta. Being a carpenter's son from the village, he had only been allowed to visit the servant’s quarters. While the hallways were the same whitewashed stone as the rest of the castle. The walls were now lined with banners and murals every so often. Entering the great hall, Seta was stunned was by the large contrast in craftsmanship. The marble floors sparkled as if made of glass were only superseded in magnificence by the walls. The wood and stone engravings alone were far beyond the meager abilities of his father and the local stone mason. Even so compared to what he had heard in the legends and stories growing up it was surprisingly bare for a king’s castle.
In the middle of the room sat a long and ordinate table. Surrounding the table were King Haroe, his court advisors, a group of soldiers, and a strikingly beautiful elvin maiden. While Seta had seen a number of female elves during the battle, her elegance far superseded the raw beauty of a fully armored solder. All of whom were more attractive than even the most alluring tavern girl. Even when surrounded by royalty she was easily the most impressive figure within the hall. She would certainly catch the eye of anyone lucky enough to enter.
Stepping forward nervously Seta stammered out.
“I.. I have brought news from Duke Raise concerning the battle in the Vale your majesty.”
Looking skeptically at the young lad, a few of the guards snickered only to be quickly reprimanded by the captain. Being more concerned about the news than the obviously untrained messenger boy the captain gestured for Seta to continue.
“Well out with it then. What news do you have of the front lines?”
Clearing his throat Seta began the message he had repeated in his head what must have been near a thousand times by now.
“Duke Riase says that the battle was costly on both sides but we have won out in the end. We were able to hold off the Empire’s movements for the first three days using the fortifications built upon Diggler’s Hill. Due to the efforts of our infantry stationed on and below the ramparts we held of their siege weapons. But after the fortifications were completely surrounded most of our men lost moral when witnessing the sheer size of the foe. Many souls were lost as men began to falter due to exhaustion and fear. Eventually the walls were about to be breached.
In an effort to instill a backbone into the men we were forced to send the Calvary to sweep through the Empires troops. This was effective at first allowing the infantry to repel the forced who had found purchase upon the walls. Tearing through the army our men found themselves confronted by a series of horse drawn chariots sent in from their flank.
If not for the sudden arrival of Lord Geran of the elves and his forces’ magic we would have surely lost the entire regiment. Upon arrival Lord Geran began bombarding the army with spells of wind and fire. Having no recourse for the elves majics the Empire's forces broke ranks. Leading a charge into the field we joined Geran and routed the enemy. Geran was able to locate and kill the Empires general who had been directing the battle from his own reserves. After the general died, what was left of their command ordered a retreat back to fort Malram. We pursued were then able to re-establish a defensive parameter around Korent.
It may be a few weeks yet before we can reclaim the surrounding farmlands. Riase suggests that now Geran and the elves are backing our forces we might be a big enough threat for the Empire to consider sending to an envoy in order to establish a treaty.”
Finishing his message Seta was pleased that he had been able to say repeat everything correctly stumbling on only a few of the words he didn’t know. Surprisingly though it was not the captain nor the king who spoke up after the report was finished. Rather it was the elf maiden who began with a strong yet melodic vice.
“As much as it burdens my heart to say it, a peace treaty would never work. A piece of parchment signed by an officiate of Shara is no more than that. That is until it becomes useful for them to regard it as otherwise. The Empire has hated our kind for ages and it will not stop till all elves and their allies are dead or subjugated within human lands. Have we not seen their treachery before when the Dawrves were hunted down? They may indeed send someone to sign a temporary truce, yet I fear that the peace would only last until our armies were disbanded. With my husband directing our soldiers, craftsman, and spell casters we may be able to create a more permanent boundary between our nations.”
Seta was shocked as both fear and awe began swimming within his heart. What she said if true, spelt certain doom for both their kingdoms unless they were victorious. But what truly sent his head spinning was in who she was. Before him stood no ordinary elf maiden but in fact the Queen of the Elves. For if she was Geran’s wife, then she was indeed royalty herself. The hall itself remained silent as she spoke. Nodding in agreement King Haroe announced.
“Well then let us make our plans to defend Korent. If we are to remain steadfast with our Elven friends then we need to fortify our countries boundaries. The fact that Shara’s forces were able to establish their reach as far as Korent and the Vale is grave news. Yet we can steady our hearts knowing Geran and his forces are here standing beside us. Let us begin preparations at once!”
Retreating to the corner of the room, Seta forgotten by everyone, watched in awe as the Queen of the Elves worked alongside King Haroe’s strategists and generals to formulate a battle plan. She was magnificent, both in her estimation of where it would be best to battle down to the organization of the supply trains.
Striding into the room while everyone’s backs were turned, a group of men and elves made their way towards the center table. Reaching the table a lone elf stepped forwards removing the cowl which had been covering his face. Announcing himself he gave a deep bow.
“Greetings Lord Haroe and company, I am here to speak in length on the most appropriate course of action for our peoples.”
Raising her eyebrows in surprise the elf Queen spoke in a soft and reserved voice, “Hello brother-in-law I was unaware that you were concerned about current events enough to leave your studies in order to join us. You strived ever so hard to become Academ Supremeus that I thought you ignorant of what has transpired these past twenty years. What is so important for you to have abandoned your place in the tower Roan?”
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“I am most intimately concerned with what has transpired. In fact I think without my intervention, we as a people would be doomed. For Shara is planning something much deeper than a mere invasion. No they mean to purge our people from this land until their kind are all that remain. That is unless we leave of our own accord.”
As soon as he finished speaking the men which had stood around Roan began dispersing themselves throughout the room.
“My men and I have traveled long in order to find a bloodless solution to our problem. After much thought and consideration I believe we have found one... Relatively bloodless that is.”
As if a signal had been given the men and elves who had entered the room began assassinating their predetermined targets. Silently working in unison they had slid behind each of Haroe’s men and either stabbed or sliced the men’s throats. It would have been masterful if not for a few of the guards, who had been aware enough of their surroundings, to survive the initial attack. Haroe gasping with effort, lay dying with shock and anger marking his face.
The few guards still alive surrounded the Elf queen intent on protecting at least one of the monarchs. A brief and bloody battle ensued in which the guards fought bravely standing their ground while batting away the assassins. Protected behind a wall of soldiers the Queen cast spell after spell causing wind blades to strike the assassins one by one.
Yet it was soon obvious that it was the guards and not the assassins who fell. Refusing to engage the guards in a contest of skill or strength the assassins merely marked or wounded the guards with their weapons while blocking or dodging. Soon the cuts which had been ignored began to burn as the poisons upon the assassins blades seeped into the men’s blood. The guards used to swordplay had no great defense against these tactics. Only the captain and the Queen were able to kill a few of the assassins.
Standing in the midst of the dead assassins and guards Roan walked forward and with a single word the captain fell holding his chest. With another he sent the queen flying through the air into the table. Walking around sliding his fingers across the lacquered wood, Roan grabbed the queen by the face and glared hatefully at her.
“Sister Esrya, my queen, do you seriously think that I would allow my simpleton brother to continue in his insanity? The battle Garen won today just turned a quick and painless surrender into a war! I have worked too hard for way too long to have my plans come to a halt. Ask yourself, why did the Dwarves retreat to their caves all those years ago?"
Struggling to remove his grip she reached out with her mind, to the world around her only to have her connection cut short. Disbelief shown over Esrya’s face for as far as the elves were aware it was impossible to cut off someone’s connection to nature. Especially when ones connection was as strong as hers. Pulling out a knife from her dress she struck out only for her hand to rebound as the blade shattered striking his cloak. Continuing as if nothing had happened Roan prattled on now dragged the queen with no visible effort across the floor despite her struggle to be freed.
“While you and our people believed me to be on my voyage of passage, I instead traveled to the Dwarf Mountains to convince those idiots to remain in their caves. They did not need that much prodding either. Their love of stone and precious minerals is much stronger than that of the sun.
I then made my way to Shara and convened with the Emperor. Acting as parley between the two I created the peace we now enjoy. That is until my bumbling simpleton of a brother realized that Shara was forcing our kind back into our own lands. Who cares if they refuse to trade with us. What does it matter if we are not allowed into their country. Their lives are miniscule in comparison to our own. What could they do or obtain within the time they are alive that could be of benefit to us?”
Struggling against both Roan’s physical strength as well as his magical strength Esrya finally managed a tendril of her magic to reach the water spirits within the basin on Roan’s left. Providing guidance to the cool water she had it shoot out of the basin becoming a large icy spike as it drilled towards Roan’s head.
The spike just like her blade broke into a thousand pieces before comming in contact with him and fell tinkling as each of the fragments made contact with the ground.
“I am responsible for the peace that has ruled over us for the past fifty years. It is I who convinced them to allow our retreat into our own lands and that of our allies. A solution much better for our people than war! If Shara and the humans want their land then why should we die needlessly for them to have it? They only attacked when we began straying back into this cursed land. We have the forests and our countries beyond where we can stay! Yet Geran the king of Oafs has done his best doom us all! He encouraged our people to make peace with the surrounding countries when this all began.Then when that peace was rejected he went to war to protect the only provincial kingdom far enough away from the Empire to be stupid enough to agree!”
As Roan continued ranting he began displaying more emotion than typical for an elf. The crazed look in his eye especially struck the queen as odd while she fought back in her anger.
“If you think Shara’s display of tolerance to the dwarves is an example of what they will do with us then we are doomed all the same. Reports came in that the Dwarf Mountains have been breached and Shara is quick at work in killing every single child! They were our allies if not our friends at one time! How could you condemn them to obliteration?”
“Easily if it means our survival, after all I am the one who found the spells needed to bypass the wards used in the ventilation shafts needed for their mines.”
Reaching into the depths of her being Esrya gathered her power for one final push to reach the elements around her. Finding no plants or dirt or animals within the castle to commune with she began shaping the air into a condensed stream of wind billowing around them. With the Windstream picking up speed Roan casually let go of Esrya and stepped back a bit.
Even though her talents did not lean towards manipulating fire, Esrya commanded the Windstream towards the candles lighting the room. Feeding the flames with a constant supply of fresh air the tiny flames burst out and became a great blue and orange inferno. Curling and sparking the flames released an intense heat which instantly melted not only the candles but also the metal candle sticks. Light and shadows swirled across the room as the flames danced within the funnels of air. Suddenly the flames arched and reached the ceiling colliding with one another. Holding her hands up high, she further magnified the intensity of the inferno, Erya continued pouring her own power into the Windstream until all but the smallest portions of energy remained within her. Slashing her hand down towards Roan the Windstream and the fire shot down in a cycle of heat and light that could burn through the heavens themselves.
Yet with one shouted word from Roan the flames died down and the windstorm that Esrya had built up became a gentle breeze. Shock and disbelief covered her face as all energy left her limbs.
Realization dawned upon Esrya that the word Roan spoke was neither from the nature nor the high magic’s taught amongst the elves. It could only be of the dark magics known to poison the mind while providing the caster with immense power.
“Roan you know you cannot use such magery. It is forbidden! You cannot fight the madness it brings!”
“This is why wood elves are useless. You condemn the pursuit of knowledge preferring to spend your days talking with your plants and animals. You think yourself mighty with your manipulation of nature, yet you limit yourselves to just that. In reality you are weak. Only the High elves, the Academs understand the true purpose of magic! Yet even they fear to touch something they simply choose not to understand. It was the mages of Shara who have shown me what true power looks like.
I am the Academ Supremeus! I have become the master all magic! I finally found a way to manipulate all of creation and you warn me of imagined dangers.”
With barely an audible word Roan spread his hands out and a black shadow formed between his hands quickly coalescing into a massive swirling ball. Crackling with energy Roan stood over his sister in law, his queen, and prepared to strike.
“Dear Esrya, I hope you understand that it is your death which will be the catalyst for our survival. You will unite our people against the humans allowing us to abandon thoughts of living alongside them. Know this and sleep.”
Unable to do anything when the assassination began Seta had cowered behind a stone column. Witnessing the entirety of the fight he questioned why his legs wouldn’t move. He tried for the door multiple times but witnessing the queen’s continued struggle prevented him from completely abandoning her. If only she had a distraction. Something that could keep Roan occupied.
Seeing the queen knocked down yet again Seta built up his courage and ran forward. Stumbling forward Seta gasped as Roan merely turned his head in his direction before turning back on the queen. Abandoning hope of taking him by surprise Seta legs finally working carried him quicker than even during the previous year’s autumn festival race. Turning around at the sudden noise the remaining assassins’ disbelief at Seta’s arrival kept them from being fast enough to keep Seta from tackling Roan. The swirling mass which had been hovering above Roan shattered sending black spikes throughout the room stabbing Esrya, the rest of the assassins, and Seta whose body unfortunately ended up guarding Roan from the loosed magic.
As Roan stood he cringed at himself as he noticed his cloak was covered in Seta’s blood. Looking around he began to discard the bodies of the elf assassin’s. Seeing no evidence to incriminate him he quickly left the room.
Barely conscious Seta looked over to the queen full of regret. He had not been able to save her or anyone else for that matter. Instead he had inadvertently saved the guy he had been trying to stop. As his consciousness slipped deeper into the abyss his last thoughts were on something so trivial he would have laughed if he were not dying. ‘ I guess I won’t be eating my cheese and brea…..’
Everything in the room became still as Seta drew his last breath. A few minutes later a servant carrying a tray of refreshments and stew stepped into the room. What happened next could have been heard even within the deepest dungeon as a cry of alarm and horror was given. The cry called more guards and soldiers to the castle as well as Haroe’s son the prince. A call of mourning was sent out as Haroe and Esrya were confirmed to be dead.
News spread quickly throughout the kingdom that Shara had sent assassins to kill their king. The Elf queen Esrya in court with Haroe was killed as well. Hearing this Geran and his soldiers marched deep into Sharan controlled land slaying all in their path. Fighting for weeks on end Geran became feared as a demon as his rage took over his senses.
Yet even with his entire fighting prowess Geran and his soldiers quickly became surrounded. The constant battles wore down Geran until even his hatred for Shara could no longer sustain him. With dwindling supplies and exhausted soldiers Garen watched as he could do nothing as he lost lifelong friends, and relatives who had chosen fight alongside him.
Retreating with as many soldiers as he could save Garen and the Elves crossed into the Dark forest. Within weeks the remaining elves within the kingdom fled for their lives as the Empires soldiers stormed through the continent slaughtering and pillaging any elven settlements that remained.
Reaching the Dark Forest the soldiers found themselves unable to continue any further. The forest itself came alive and attacked every human who entered. Eventually Shara’s officiates declared human lands free of all dark beasts!