I realized that I haven't yet posted this here; I don't know why. I hope you enjoy.
Birth of an Outcast
A sudden flash of light lit the rolling hills and thick forest, followed by a crash of thunder that shattered the unearthly silence. Flocks of birds burst from the foliage, filling the clouded sky of the early night. Droplets of rain spattered against the thick canopy of the woods. Soon the land was hit with a torrent of falling water. The few nocturnal animals present in the hilly fields hurried back into the relative dryness of the forest.
Out of the wall of trees trotted a white stallion, upon it sat a young lady, still but a child in other's eyes. Her long earthy brown hair framed her delicately pointed ears, and her deeply tanned skin showed no imperfections. The adolescent was dressed in simple traveler's clothes that contradicted her femininity, but at the same time their simplicity brought her beauty into full view. She wore a brown tunic of coarse cloth; its top was lightly laced, giving only a glimpse of her delicately curved flesh. Her arms and legs were covered by green wool, the loose cloth further masking her feminine qualities. Her ensemble was completed with an unstrung hunter's bow and a quiver of arrows upon her back.
She groaned with frustration as her emerald eyes worriedly watched the road ahead. It wasn't some potential danger that worried her; the roads were so safe that she had been allowed to ride alone for several years. It was the rain that worried her, so she drew a dull green cloak from her horse's saddlebags and wrapped it tightly around herself. With no small amount of frustration, she urged her steed out onto the field.
The falling rain quickly dampened not only her clothes, but her spirits as well. Rain was the only one of nature's wonders that her elven heritage didn't afford her to enjoy. It brought back bad memories of the time she spent cloistered in her father's castle when it rained, restricted from doing what she loved best: exploring.
In an effort to lift her spirits, her thoughts turned to the last months. She had traveled northward into the elven forest of Kino Yurin to visit her grandfather, a member of the ruling elven council. Unlike her father's home where she had to abide by the customs of noble life, she was unrestricted with her grandfather. There she was allowed to truly be herself, free of the superficiality of royalty. She could spend as much time as she wanted outside, she didn't have duties to tend to, and most of all she could express herself. She did love her human father; she just didn't like the oppressive environment forced upon her by her noble blood.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not pry her mind away from the present. As her horse traveled along the safety of the familiar paths, her concentration was locked on the horizon. She tried to see through the rain and catch a glimpse of the towers of Quermas, her father's city, in the repeated flashes of lightning. After several strikes of lightning, she gave up her hopes of seeing those towers, bringing her gaze to the road ahead, trusting entirely on her senses to guide her south.
Alicia's heart filled with dread as she sensed an ill omen in the sudden appearance of the rain. It was as if it had grew in an instant to mock her and obscure her sight from what was ahead. She despised the rain and all it brought with it: the sound of the rolling thunder, the sight of the lightning flashing, the sound of her horse's hooves squishing in the mud, the smell of the drowning earth, and the damp taste of dirt in the air.
Her mother died on a night like this. She looked up to the sky, realizing that she had suppressed that memory for so long. It was twenty years earlier, when she was only 3, when her mother succumbed to disease. Alicia blamed it on the rain; she blamed everything on the rain.
Without thinking, she brought her horse to a stop, her soul clinging to the knowledge that something was out of place. The happiness that lay behind her and the curtain of rain before her; None of it felt right, all of it pointed to nothing but tragedy.
An arch of lightning burst through the clouds before her, singeing its shape into her vision for a second. She blinked and stair ahead at the apparition burned into her sight, a bolt of lightning in the shape of a dagger. Her heart skipped a beat then began to frantically pound within her chest. Trembles waved through her body as she imagined the castle laying in ruin, everyone she ever loved buried under smoking stone.
Suddenly the rain trickled to a stop. She frantically scanned the dark horizon for the silhouette of her father's castle, but even her keen night eyes couldn't see through the darkness. The beating of her heart quickened and a cold sweat appeared on her brow, her fears overtaking her. It was then that the stars began to appear as the clouds drifted eastward. The stars brought soft light to the moon-less night. As her eyes adjusted to the welcomed light, a shadow of the familiar castle was brought into view, right where it should be.
Directly ahead, where it always was.
Almost a half-hour later, Alicia arrived at the massive iron gates of her father's city, built within the hulking stone walls which surrounded Quermas entirely. As she rode her horse up to the gates, her keen night vision picked out the forms of two guards standing in the shadows next to the gate. Alicia tried to discern their identities from a distance, but these were two she had never seen before. She assumed them to be militia, which only brought her worries back. Something must be going on for the militia to be put on duty. Uneasily she rode up to the gate.
"Young ladies like yourself shouldn't be riding around so late at night," the guard to the left said as he presented himself in the light. He was a short stocky man, with wide shoulders atop his barely four-foot frame. A dwarf, not uncommon in human lands, even during these prejudiced times. "You know it can be quite dangerous this close to the frontier. You never know what could happen to you out here, or what people you could meet." The dwarf grinned past his scraggy beard, his beady eyes tracing over her body.
"You see why we can't just let you in little girl?" the other, much taller guard said in a wiry voice as he stepped out of the shade. "It's in the city's best interests; we don't know if you're dangerous."
"That's why," the dwarf said with a chuckle, "you're going to have to come with us forâ,¬Â¦"
"Check in!" the tall stringy guard said with a grin. Alicia rolled her eyes and nonchalantly slipped off her horse and turned to face the lanky guard. She stood commandingly and walked toward him. The guard grinned as he looked back and forth between his partner and the beautiful, seemingly defenseless, girl that marched toward him. That grin disappeared as she brushed her hood back, revealing her pointed ears.
"I'm soâ,¬Â¦ sorry m'lady," he mumbled out of trembling lips as he forced a bow. But his apologies weren't enough to stop her approach. Her brisk stride put her right in front of him in only a matter of seconds.
"Listen pinhead!" the five-foot Alicia yelled up at the six-foot solder, "I'm tired of you people and your perversions! Now let me in and you may yet keep your badges!" Her teeth were clenched and her reflexes were loaded.
The two guards dropped their spears and hurriedly opened the gates without another word, allowing the princess to pass.
"You," Alicia snapped commandingly towards the now cowed man-dwarf, "take my horse to the stables and see it well cared for." Before the order finished leaving her lips, the dwarf ran to her horse and took its reigns, his path turning once more before he nearly dragged the horse by it's reigns through the gates and up through the streets.
Alicia snickered to herself and started to walk into the city, uttering a coy "thank you" as she passed the humbled guard. Once past his view, Alicia released herself and sighed. 'Another day in the city,' she thought to herself, making note to give her father the descriptions of the impromptu guards.
The city streets seemed much busier than usual. It was well past midnight, but the roadways were bustling with people. Alicia stopped one man and inquired about the commotion. After the man overcame his initial shock of seeing the princess, he told her that the persons were members of the People's Militia, Quermas' backup force made up of nearly one half its adult population. Her suspicions were correct, but she still wondered what could have possessed her father to enact them during a time of piece.
Spurred by her worries, she quickened her pace, now dashing up the streets to the plateau. Soon she reached the spiraling ramp, which lead to the castle gates. Here the regular guards were much more polite, letting her in with only a few words exchanged.
Her quick strides brought her through the earthy gardens that surrounded the castle. Even during the winter night, many of the flowers were blooming. Momentarily distracted, Alicia slowed her pace and smiled to herself, silently reciting the different flower's names by heart. These were her gardens; planted to placate her need to be surrounded by the natural world. A group of peacocks moved through the walkways, seemingly escorting Alicia on her way home.
Once the she exited the gardens, Alicia came to her senses. The castle stood before her, and she resumed her run. She had to know what was going on.
Alicia reached the castle's doors, dashing through them and past the pair of guards in the vestibule without a word. As she hastily shed her wet cloak, she shot a sidelong glance at one of the guards. 'An elf?' she thought. Intrigued, she looked over the guards who were making their rounds through the entrance hall, several of whom were elves as well. The presence of the mixed human and elven guard only reinforced Alicia's apprehension. Even though Quermas was the most accepting city in the nation, the human guards couldn't hide the look of worry on their faces.
The elves too had an expression on their faces, only there's was a look of disgust; as if serving alongside humans would make them any less an elf.
"What's going on here?" she muttered under her breath, trying to reason why the elven guards were present.
"Only home for a moment and she's already causing trouble." The familiar deep voice interrupted her thoughts. "Is this any way for our princess to behave?"
Alicia looked up and saw two guards descending the stairs with wide smiles on their square faces. The first man was wearing fine cloths and an ornamental breastplate, his salt and pepper hair and beard cut trim. Roland was his name, Alicia's father's closest friend and captain of the city guard. Behind him walked a similar but relatively smaller and younger man, dressed in equally fine clothes but no armor. His dark hair was also kept short, except for a tail tied in the back. He was Roland's son, Stephen, and years before he had been Alicia's sweetheart. But as he grew older and her elven blood kept her young, they drifted apart.
"What did I do now?" Alicia replied. She shifting her weight onto one leg and folding her arms, a questioning look stretched across her face.
Stephen's grin only widened, his arms held behind his back as if he was hiding something.
Roland shook his head and gestured behind Alicia with a strong hand. Her gaze followed her hand and she turned around, and her cheeks erupted into a blush that was so deep that it couldn't be hidden by her dark tan. A pair of muddy footprints stretched across the purple carpeting, along side the prints lay Alicia's crumpled cloak in what was now a growing puddle.
"Welcome home Alicia," Roland spoke as he reached her, "I hope your travel wasn't too harsh."
"I brought you some towels," interrupted Stephen as he presented the white linens from behind his back. "I meant to meet you at the gate butâ,¬Â¦"
Alicia snatched the towels from him and pressed her face into them, cutting his apology short. She couldn't be rid of the rainwater fast enough.
"â,¬Â¦but I was held up," he concluded with an abrupt laugh.
"It's all right," she quickly replied as she draped the towels over her shoulders, "I'm a woman now, I don't need an escort."
"You are not one yet," Roland rebutted, "your father ordered me to escort you to your room. It would seem he has some matters of importance to discuss with you in private." Stephen held a wide palm out for her, which she reluctantly took. As if the rain hadn't dampened her spirit enough: now she required an escort in her own castle. The two tall men lead the dainty Alicia up the arch of the curved stairs. As her mood further depressed, she continuously watched her feet and the embroidery on the carpet as they moved along.
"How was your trip Ally?" Stephen asked to break the silence. He was given no reply. "You once said that the winter is incredibly warm in the woods."
"So Roland," Alicia said, seemingly not hearing Stephen's attempt at small talk, "what are all the new elven guards here for?"
"Perhaps they are here to make you feel more comfortable," Stephen continued, trying to buy her attention, "or maybe they are here to keep you from running away anymore."
Alicia shot him a cold scowl and returned her eyes to Roland.
"Actually," Roland interjected, "rumor is that all the major cities in Hunurst are massing their armies. I believe Lord Darkholm in the capital started the trend, as he ordered the Northern Guard to assemble once more. He claims that the elves are provoking animals to attack the frontier towns."
"When the elves heard of the military buildup, they increased the presence of hunters along the forest line. Your grandfather sent us word along with the added security last month just after you left. He believes that the presence of elven guards will keep the hunters from attacking. When your father and I received the word, we put the militia on full alert, just in case your grandfather's hunch was incorrect."
"Do not worry Ally," Stephen said as he put a hand on her shoulder, "you know the other guards and I will not let anything happen to youâ,¬Â¦ or the city. These walls have never been penetrated, remember?"
Alicia feigned a smile. She walked a little more cautiously now, the ominous feeling inside her growing with the news. The thought of being stuck in the castle while a war was fought between her two peoples was worse than the rain. Prejudice and looks of anger in her own city would send her over the edge.
The three continued through the halls in silence, both men no longer wanting to disturb her thoughts. After what seemed like an eternity to Alicia, they finally reached the door to her room.
"Kate has drawn you a warm bath and will be back shortly," Roland said as he opened the door for her. "Your father is currently seeing to diplomats and requests that you make yourself presentable for company."
Alicia nodded glumly and slunk into her room, turning to close the door. She then saw Stephen's supportive smile, which said without words that everything would work out. A smile grew on her lips, a true smile, and she closed the door.
'Perhaps it would be all right,' Alicia thought.
Alicia sighed heavily once her door had been closed. Here, alone in her room with only the starlight to keep her company, she was able to feel like herself, unlike the cloistered feelings she had while walking the halls of her own father's castle. For now she relaxed, walking softly to her window which overlooked her gardens. She looked down at the wet field of night blooming blossoms, mesmerized by the starlight's shimmer on their damp petals.
"So the rain does bring beauty," she remarked as she turned away from the window.
Her smooth gait took her past her vanity and high canopy bed toward the lavish washroom that adjoined her room. The carvings of both her vanity and bedposts were made to look organic; their vibrantly polished surfaces making it appear that the wood grew to its current shape. Her bed's canopy looked like that of a forest, complete with leaves of green silk. A chandelier hung from the ceiling in the center of the room, but in the place of candles were hundreds of crystals designed to amplify the light of a single, currently unlit, candle in the center. Even her room's carpeting was full of life, its blended color of greens and yellows was a perfect match to spring grass.
Although it appeared more manmade, Alicia's washroom was no less extravagant. Placed across the room were countless tiny lit candles, their flickering light and faint warmth called out to Alicia as she stood in the room's doorway. A high-edged porcelain tub sat on the far side of the room, alongside it rested a shelf full of liquid soaps and oils in glass and crystal bottles. The walls were a calming blue-green and the floor was made of tiny colorful tiles. Most spectacular of all was the ceiling, midnight blue with thousands of gems that sparked in the candle light like a star filled night.
Alicia took a moment to stare intoxicated into the tub, watching the steam swirl across the surface dancing with floating rose petals. She softly shook her head, quietly asserting "Kate, you spoil me worse than my father." A grin quickly grew across her lips, "Can't let it go to waste," she added.
She drew her fingers through her matted wet hair, the stench of the rain still clinging to her and her clothes. Still in the washroom's doorway, she bent down to unlace her traveling boots before stepping further onto the tile floors. After sitting upon a stool beside the tub, Alicia began to remove her rain stained garments. First her green tunic, followed by the long-sleeved brown shirt and matching pants. She precariously stepped into the tub and slowly sat, the warm water embracing her tanned flesh inch by inch.
Once she was sitting neck deep in the welcomed water, she closed her eyes and sunk further. The warm water enveloped her head, soaking in for a few moments before she reemerged, laying her head back to relax. Her emerald eyes closed and she breathed deep the rosy fragrance of the water. Soon the warm water relaxed away all her tensions, causing her to forget all about omens and wars. Her arm reached unconsciously for a glass bottle perched on the shelf. Once in hand, she uncorked the bottle and smelled the fragrant soap, sending chills through her being. She poured the fluid into her hair and began to wash away all reminders of the rain.
Finally free of the rain's stink, Alicia remained within the cooling water, enjoying its soft caress. As she slipped into a state of complete relaxation, her bright eyes roamed involuntarily around the washroom and her bedroom beyond. She began to note every nuance and small detail of the rooms, thinking about how much she actually missed everything. Soon her eyes drifted to the elaborately tiled floors, a mosaic that accounted the tale of her family's ascendance to the throne generations ago.
"I never noticed that before," she remarked as she stare upon the tiled floor. She brought her attention to her room beyond, noting the luxury that her father's wealth and station provided. A warm smile formed across her lips once more.
"Home isn't that bad," she jested before sinking her head into the water once more.
Alicia walked out of her washroom wearing a white fluffy robe, lazily brushing her auburn hair. She sat at her vanity, sifting unenthusiastically through her makeup. Noble ways dictated how she was supposed to act, dress, and prepare herself. Those ways never made sense to her; she always liked being natural, no special colors or additions added. But to appease her father, she rubbed a glossy colorless cream on her lips and closed the makeup case. 'That should be good enough,' she assured herself as she gazed into the mirror.
Just then there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Alicia said quietly, knowing full well who it was.
A human woman entered, carrying a lavender dress trimmed in pearls, softly closing the door behind her. She stood a half-foot taller than Alicia, with pale freckled skin and straight black hair. Her features were slender and simple, somewhere between plain and beautiful. Her long hair hung free upon her back, except for two braids extending from her bangs, framing her head like a tiara. A long brown skirt fell from her waist to her calves, and her white long-sleeved shirt was drawn tightly across her stomach and loose over her chest and arms. The woman was Kate Larksong, Alicia's lifelong friend. Just like everyone she grew up with, Kate had grown into an adult while she continued to linger in adolescence. First Kate had been her best friend, then a big sister, and recently became a mother figure to the mother-less Alicia.
"Miss Alicia," Kate spoke in her airy musical voice, "your father told me to bring you this." She presented the elegant dress she was carrying. "He says he has a surprise which you need to be dressed well for." Alicia started to giggle at Kate's attempt to be anything more formal than her closest friend. Kate's mock serious visage was soon shattered as they both broke into heartfelt laughter.
"It's good to see you again Kate," Alicia said as she stood to pull Kate into a heartfelt hug.
"And you as well Alicia," Kate responded, returning the embrace.
A minute later, Alicia finally stepped back and looked down at the dress which Kate held. She delicately took the dress and held it up by the shoulder straps. The dress was made of smooth silk, dyed a faint lavender and trimmed with pearls along its edges. The back plunged low and the neck was high and square cut; Alicia was pleased that the dress wouldn't accent her lack of cleavage.
"This will have to do I guess," Alicia said reluctantly as she let her robe fall to the floor. "Why must he make me wear these?" she muttered as she cumbersomely climbed into the dress. Alicia's father openly objected to her choice of clothing and coaxed her to dress "like a lady" whenever he could. Alicia knew he had good intentions, but she still fought with his ways.
Once the dress's straps were over her shoulders, Kate moved to tie up the laces along the small of Alicia's back. "You really should wear dresses more often," Kate reassured. "You're figure is every corset bound women's envy."
When Alicia was dressed, the two companions drifted through the winding halls of the castle. Kate inquired about Alicia's trip, listening to every word. Alicia told her of her stay with her grandfather, going into great detail of the happenings of the elves, knowing how much Kate wished she were allowed into the elven lands. She continued her story, skipping over the rainy trip home but being sure to tell Kate about the guards at the city gate. Kate burst into laughter, the melody of her voice echoing through the castle halls.
When it came Kate's turn to speak, the tales turned to more grim things. Nothing Alicia hadn't already heard concerning the conflict between her two people, but the subject weighed down the conversation still. Kate tried to salvage the mood with a story of the romantic exploits of the castle cook and the city's maidens, or Stephen's latest attempt at gaining prestige, but Alicia remained silent the rest of the way. Alicia's daze was so thick that she failed to notice that their path was taking them to the ballroom and not her father's council chambers.
Alicia and Kate reached their destination after a winding trip through the castle's halls. The conversation had returned Alicia to her glum mood; her thoughts focused on eminent disaster that her heart told her lurked on the horizon. Now standing before the high double doors that lead into the castle's ballroom, Kate's face glowed, a glowing blush crossing her cheeks as she fought to hold something in.
"What's gotten into you?" Alicia spoke as she brought her eyes away from the floor and fixed them on Kate's bright face. It was then that Alicia realized where they were. "What are you hiding?"
"Alicia, will you not let me have a bit of fun from this?" Kate responded, biting onto her lower lip to hold a blank expression. Quickly she turned her back to Alicia and threw the double doors open.
The ballroom was large, with a polished marble floor, a thirty-foot high arched-ceiling, and windows that stretched the length and height of the adjacent wall. The violet curtains were pulled open on all of the windows and countless tables were placed haphazardly across the room as servants scurried about to put everything into its rightful place. Standing in the center of the room was Alicia's father, Markus Starlan, dressed in his finest clothes of violet and white, complete with a regal robe draped over his shoulders. He was currently busy directing the servants, showing them where the tables should go and how the centerpieces should look.
Alicia stood dumfounded in the doorway, her eyes drifting across every square inch of the ballroom. She had seen the ballroom prepared for her father's parties before, but she could not imagine the cause for the upcoming celebration. The new year was a month away and the solace had already passed. Confused, Alicia looked to Kate and was reassured with a bright smile. Alicia returned her gaze to her father, standing motionless as if waiting for something to happen.
It was Kate who broke the silence, lifting her arms high into the air, waving and calling out, "Lord Markus, your lady has arrived!"
Calmly, Markus looked up from his conversation with one of the servants and smiled wide as his eyes met with Alicia's. He excused himself and wound his way through the maze of tables and chairs toward the two companions in the doorway. Markus was a tall slender man, with smooth round features. His hair had long grayed from the worries and pressures of ruling a city, but the lines on his hairless face told of nothing but wide smiles and long laughs. His eyes were a slate blue, full of wisdom and a love of life. As he approached his daughter, he held his arms wide to welcome Alicia home.
Alicia's look of confusion was replaced with total elation as she bounded towards her father, leaping into his open arms. "Oh Daddy, I missed you so much. I missed everything so much. I was so worried that something bad was going to happen. I'm so glad that you're safe, that everything is right." Alicia pressed her cheek to her father's chest; her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as she expelled everything that had bottled up inside of her over the last day. Markus had placed his arms over Alicia's shoulders, holding her warmly and silently listening to her every word. Father and daughter reunited, Kate quietly slipped out of the room, closing the doors behind her.
Alicia clung to her father, rubbing her now flowing tears of joy into his frilled shirt. She reached deeper within her heart and continued to release her worries, "That was such a long month. It was great to see Grandfather again, but so many things have changed. They were all staring at me Daddy, like they hated me for being half-human."
"You are always welcome here my treasure," Markus reassuringly spoke, "remember what I always told you, 'nothing that people think of you matters as long as you are a good person inside.' Worry not about this talk of war, everything will be cleared up soon enough."
A bright smile crossed her lips as she pressed against her father more. His large arms held onto her tenderly as they shared a conversation without words. Because Alicia's mother had died when she was so young, the bond they shared was the only sure thing Alicia had to hold onto.
Minutes had passed before they let go and Alicia stepped back. She stood courtly and fumbled with her dress, bowing into a low courtesy; she was trying hard to please. A deep laugh rose from Markus' chest and he clapped his hands together. Soon three servants came out from a side door, carrying with them plates and trays with a steaming meal for two.
"You must be famished," Markus said as he guided Alicia to a seat before he sat and the servants filled their plates. Once the servants left, the two began to lazily eat. Alicia's plate contained warmed fruit and delicate white meat while her father's had a cut of red meat and a steaming potato. She momentarily stared at her father's plate, then down to hers, wondering how silly her father must have thought of her for her peculiar tastes. The two continued to eat in silence, Alicia was content just being together with her father once again.
Once her plate was clear, Alicia looked up and watched her father clear his plate. She gazed deep into his eyes, seeing a glaze that hadn't been there before. Along his face were new lines, the skin around his eyes sagged, and the curve of his lips dropped at the edges. For once in her life, her father looked old to her. Alicia was suddenly aware of her father's nearing mortality. He had sired her nearly thirty years ago, which meant he had to be at least sixty. Her heartbeats grew stronger as she suddenly realized that her father would probably die while she was still a child.
Alicia swallowed her thoughts of death and mortality, chalking her new perspective to the time that she had spent with her grandfather and the elves. She smiled lightly to herself, now determined to lighten her own mood.
"Daddy, what's the party's occasion going to be?"
"The occasion?" Markus asked questioningly as he put his fork down and wiped his lips clean. "Why it is to welcome you home, to let you relax and be with those you love." Alicia smiled brightly as he continued to speak, "Your grandfather will even be here tomorrow, it will be a family event."
Alicia's smile grew even more; she hadn't seen her whole family together in one place since her mother died. Her spirit soared; every worry she had built up in the last day flew away. 'So this was it,' she thought, 'it was just a surprise party. A silly surprise party had me that worked up.' "Thanks Daddy," she said as she stood up and moved to hug him as he sat.
"It is getting late my child," Markus said as he stood and wrapped his arms around Alicia once more. "Tomorrow is going to be such a busy day, why don't we get some rest then discuss the entertainment over breakfast?" Alicia silently nodded and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek before she reluctantly drifted towards the door.
"Tomorrow morning," she repeated, looking over her shoulder as she opened the doors to return to her room.
"Bright and early," Markus replied.
Faint starlight in the moon-less night falls upon the walls of Quermas as its guards pace in pairs along its length. With the passing of the rain, the night had grown silent; the only sounds that drifted through the still air were the crackling flames of the wall's oil torches and the clapping footfalls of the soldiers that occasionally splashed in a puddle. The pace of the guards slowed as the night went on. Feet stumbled, spears tipped, and the sounds of yawns now drift lazily through the air.
A warm breeze began to blow in from the east, followed by a soft orange glow along the eastern horizon. Newfound energy comes to the guards who all move to sit near the oil torches. Casual conversations begun among the pairs of guards as they resume acting like people once more.
Two such guards sit alone upon the southern edge of the wall. They softly talk in the torchlight, seemingly at ease in the near darkness.
"How's your family?" one guard asks the other, "last I heard your youngest had the fever."
"She is doing great, perfect actually," the other guard replies, "I was so relived when Captain Roland gave me the advance I asked for, I was able to afford the donation so the priests would tend to her."
Suddenly a chill wind blew in from the South, flowing over the guards. It took the flames of the torches with it, bathing the southern wall in total darkness. The two guards squinted in the starlight, one clutching his spear close while the other fumbled with flint and steel trying to strike the oil.
Unseen by the guards, a lithe figure crawled up the wall like a spider, not even ten feet from them. It crouched low once it reached the walkway, a humanoid shadow against the gray stone.
"I just can't get it lit," one guard huffed, turning to face his partner.
With a flick of a wrist, the shadow sent a dagger flying through the air. The blade plunged into the throat of the second guard, killing him instantly. Only the sound of his spear clanking against the stone and a body crumpling to the floor broke through the dread silence.
The first guard reached for his spear and drew in a breath, but before he could call a warning, a thin-gloved hand wrapped around his head and clasped his mouth shut. Suddenly a wide knife was plunged into his spine, and the shadow threw him to the floor.
The shadow withdrew his blades from the two corpses and returned them to their sheaths along his vest. The killer's thin lips became a heartless smile as he surveyed his handy work. As the sun peaked over the horizon, the shadow's identity became apparent. He stood just over five feet tall, an elf with light blue skin, large orange eyes and long white hair drawn back tightly against his head. Unlike other elves, his thin pointed ears pointed three inches outward rather than backward. He wore black leather gauntlets, boots, and a vest lined with rows of daggers of various sizes, and loose dull gray pants.
The dark elf's gaze moved to the castle atop the plateau the city surrounded. He glanced from right to left as the quiet sounds of more guards could be heard in the air. After taking one last look at his kills, he leapt ten feet onto the roof of a nearby building, sprinting toward the castle.
Many soldiers infested the streets of the city that morning. The assassin watched them as he ran past, but he continued his path silently across the rooftops toward the castle. Once the plateau cliffs were in range, he leapt upon them and swiftly climbed up.
Soon he reached the high gates that surrounded the castle. He focused his eyes and looked within then shot a glance behind him. The coast was clear behind and only two elven guards were present at the castle's doors beyond the gardens. As swiftly as a cat, the assassin bounded over the gates and silently sprinted like the wind directly for the door.
Two daggers sung through the air, one hitting its mark between the large eyes of one elf, the other just clipping the ear of the second guard. The assassin cursed as the still living guard spun around and opened the doors.
The assassin took his opportunity, swiftly pouncing the guard from behind. The impact carried them both into the castle's entryway and sent the elf's face into the ground. The crunch of his jaw echoed through the entry room and his painful cries were muffled by the hall's carpet. At the exact moment the elf's face collided with the floor, the dark elf pressed his weight on top the elf's head and drove a long blade through one temple and out the other.
A sigh of relief came from the dark elf's mouth as he stood and wrenched his blade free from the elf's skull. The entrance hall was empty and poorly lit in the early morning hours. With nothing standing in his way, he dashed up the stairs and turned down the right hall.
His silent path brought him to the guard's quarters. As three solders exited a room and walked towards the intruder, he quickly hid within a shadow and waited for them to pass. One of the guards was Stephen, and the three passed the dark elf without notice.
The dark elf moved to the door which the three left, but before he clasped the handle he turned to the door opposite him on the other wall of the hall. He snatched the handle and gave the door a sharp tug. Nothing, the door was locked.
Within, the creaking sound of the door-frame woke Roland from his sleep. He reached for his broadsword and drew it from its scabbard.
The dark elf drew a pouch from under his vest and threw its blackened powder onto the door. Pouch still in hand, the dark elf gave the door a swift kick, the sound masked by the contents of the pouch.
Roland stood from his bed and approached the door wearing a long nightshirt, sword in hand.
With one more kick, the door frame cracked and swung inward. Roland gasped at the sight and started to yell, but the dark elf flung the remainder of the dust into Roland's face. His cries of alarm were silenced.
The assassin charged forward, a knife now in each hand. Roland brought up the edge of his blade horizontally, striking the assassin square in the gut. This caused the assassin to immediately stop before the blade bit into his flesh and kicked Roland back before he was split open upon the blade's edge.
Roland regained his balance and brought his sword high for a massive downward strike. No move was made by the dark elf to dodge or parry the potentially crippling strike that swung down toward him. Just as the sword was only a few inches from his face, the assassin's hand shot up before the blade.
Roland's eyes widened as a force stopped his blade and jerked it sharply. Two strong pulls sent the blade flying, impaling Roland's bed. Roland watched the blade soar through the air, and the assassin lunged, a dagger in each hand once more.
Dual daggers aimed at Roland's lungs, the dark elf pushed forward. Roland turned his eyes back to his adversary and quickly locked his large hands around the assassin's. Knuckles popped as Roland squeezed, causing the stone cold assassin's face to grimace in pain.
Dropping to his knees, the assassin's face contorted in a mixture of hatred and pain. The large man was much stronger than him, pressing the small dark elf to the floor. Face to face, the dark elf's face softened into a dread smile as his wrists snapped backwards and his gauntlets clicked.
A silent scream came out of Roland's gaping mouth as the two spring loaded daggers shot out of the assassin's gauntlets and pierced Roland's wrists. Straining under the man's weight, the assassin's arms momentarily bulged. The dark elf stood, lifting the human by the daggers in his wrists, and drove the daggers into the wall.
Roland hung exhausted against the wall, looking up into the assassin's eyes. Without an expression, the assassin took a stiletto from his belt and impaled Roland's head through the underside of his jaw. Roland's neck fell limp and his body hung from the daggers.
The assassin spent a few moments in the room, searching through the drawers of the dresser and desk. Passing several items of monetary value, he came across a small wooden box. He opened the box and threw it aside, holding up a pair of keys.
Two guards could be heard coming down the hall, and the dark elf looked about the room frantically. As the sounds of the approaching guards grew louder, the assassin turned to the back wall of the room. He pressed his large ear against the wall and his eyes lit up. Quickly he searched for a trigger, sliding the keys he found into a groove between the wall's panels.
The secret door closed just as the guards walked into the room.
The assassin hurried up the spiraling staircase, cursing under his breath. The air was warm and still within the corridor, and it's outer wall was lined with candles every 5 feet. Once he had climbed several stories, the dark elf spun around and snarled, drawing two cruel daggers again.
The loud echoing sound of determined boots rung from the stairs below. A broad armored guard turned around the bend, his face contorted with anger and loss.
"You bastard!" Stephen yelled, tears flowing from his eyes. His sword was already drawn and his heart was filled with rage.
The dark elf stepped back, assuring his high ground advantage. Stephen moved and stabbed with his sword. Twin daggers parried Stephen's attack, countering with swift swipes of their own. After dodging the quick attack, Stephen began swinging wildly. In the small confines of the stairwell, the assassin was unable to dodge the attacks and was forced to parry each one, locking up his weapon's offense.
One of the assassin's daggers was knocked away. The assassin was forced to retreat back to keep from being slashed and stabbed by the frequent swipes of Stephen's sword. The two blades rang against each other with every parry.
With his free hand, Stephen grabbed a candle from the wall and flung its hot wax into the face of the assassin. The dark elf yelled and stepped back, but blindly lunged toward Stephen. Stephen ducked the attack and ran up the stairs as the assassin tumbled down.
Without looking back, Stephen barreled up the stairway. When he finally reached the top of the stairs, Stephen pressed on the wall that opened the trap door. He pulled one last candle fixture and stepped into the hallway. A deep rumble echoed through the stairwell, sending tremors through the ancient stone. Stephen turned to look down the stairs just in time to see the dark elf's orange eyes open wide in surprise as the stairs collapsed out from under him. Stephen smiled and sheathed his sword as the dark elf disappeared into a cloud of dust.
Stephen turned and leaned into the door adjacent the secret stairwell's exit. The door pushed in easily as Stephen leaned against it. Markus looked up from his position seated on the edge of his bed, a look of concern and confusion on his face. A sigh of relief escaped Stephen's lips and a halfhearted smile cracked the side of his lips. But his smile soon twisted into an expression of agony as a dagger flew into his hamstring from behind.
He dropped to the floor clutching the dagger in his leg and the dark elf floated into the room, his feet never touching the ground.
Alicia shot up in her bed, desperately trying to scream but to no result. A sharp throbbing pain cut through her neck, coupled with a warm feeling along her chest. In her mind she replayed the dream that had just left her mind, the images presented within were so real. She shook her head, reassuring herself that it was just a dream. The dark elves of this land were destroyed eight hundred years ago; now they only existed in stories meant to scare children, or far across the sea.
Suddenly a deep rumble and the sound of collapsing stone shattered the silence of the night.
"The stairwell!" Alicia shrieked, leaping out of her bed. She flung a robe on and ran out of her room. Instincts sent her down the hallways toward her father's room on the other side of the castle. The hallways were now eerily silent.
A cough came from down the hall.
"Ally!" a familiar voice yelled down the hall, "get back!" Stephen stood near the door to her father's room. He was leaning against the wall, and even through the thick dust in the air, Alicia could see the pool of blood collecting at his feet.
Despite his warning, she ran past him and into her father's room. First she saw the ripped curtains billowing in the morning breeze through the open window. Then she turned to the bed and cautiously stepped close.
Tears welled up in hr eyes as she started to pull back the covers. Her father's face was calm, and a black cloth had been ritually wrapped around his neck, covering the deep wound that had ended Markus' life.
Alicia lay against him and cried through the morning.
Alicia had closed herself off in her room once she had been pulled away from her father's side. She wouldn't speak with anyone; she only wanted to dwell upon the emptiness she now felt inside. It wasn't long after she locked her door and was surrounded by nothingness that she came to the realization that everything she had seen in her dream had happened just after.
Burying her face in her palms, Alicia tried to sob even though her tears were long exhausted. She fought her hardest not to think about the dream or last night's tension, refusing to believe that it was her father's murder she had been sensing all along.
Quickly, Alicia brought her eyes to her door, half expecting someone to knock. She stood cautiously and slunk towards her bedroom door, reaching to undo the lock and slowly open the door. Just as she had opened the door, a welcomed face came into view.
Alicia's grandfather, Emeran, stood before her. He was wearing a flowing robe of green silk and gold threads, but its luxury was maxed by the expression of sorrow drawn across his tanned ageless face. He held his arms open and Alicia collapsed into them, soaking his long dull brown hair with newfound tears.
Without a single word exchanged, Alicia and Emeran left the castle. A carriage waited for them at the castle gate accompanied by two mounted elven soldiers. Alicia looked to her grandfather with a look of confusion.
"Where are the others?" she inquired.
"They were turned away at the gate," Emeran stoically replied, "your protector, Stephen, would only let me inside. It seems his suspicions have fallen upon us."
Emeran guided Alicia onto the carriage seat, climbing up to sit next to her once she was seated. Alicia again fell into his arms, hiding her eyes so she wouldn't have to say goodbye to her city as the horses pulled the carriage away.
"I am pleased you decided to come home with me," Emeran spoke after they had cleared the city walls, "I was afraid you would try to convince your people to let you rule."
"They wouldn't accept a half-blood," she replied coldly.
The carriage rode in silence for two hours before it reached the forest edge.
"Grandfather?" Alicia spoke meekly as she looked up, "I knew it was going to happen."
Emeran looked confusedly upon her.
"It wasn't an elf," Alicia continued. "A dark elf sneaked into the castle this morning and killed my father. And I saw it!" She took in a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "I think something was trying to warn me last night. I kept seeing omens: the rain, and a bolt of lightning in the shape of a dagger. My father looked as if he was dying last night."
Alicia's face was stale and emotionless as she stare upon the winding path ahead of them.
"Why'd this have to happen to me?" she softly whispered.
"I know this will be hard to hear," Emeran pulled her against his side, stroking her hair to console her, "but this is a gift. If what you say is true, this conflict could be over today."
Alicia turned her head and looked deep into Emeran's eyes, some semblance of life returning to her own.
"What do you mean?" Alicia questioned.
"I know it won't bring your father back, but his death doesn't have to be in vain. If his murderer was truly a dark elf that could mean this entire conflict has been orchestrated by them. Your gift may have prevented a war. All we have to do is take you before the council and let them hear your story."
Alicia smiled halfheartedly, bringing her gaze back to the road ahead. Her entire body trembled to think that her people were being manipulated by an ancient enemy. She breathed deep and looked back to her grandfather, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Thank you for believing me," she spoke softly, "I could barely believe it myself." His thin arms held her close, making Alicia feel home again.
After they had shared their embrace, Alicia pulled away and looked into his eyes. She let out a gasp as she momentarily saw his eyes replaced with empty holes, turning away to cover her face.
"Not you too," she muttered to herself as the tears returned.
Emeran looked upon her with momentary confusion before realization struck his eyes.
"Guards!" was all he could utter before several daggers flew from the trees above, plunging into the two soldiers and knocking from their horses. Emeran drew a silver amulet of a crescent moon from under his robe and held it high, weaving a spell with his voice as fast as he could.
Before the spell was completed, three more daggers soar through the air, two landing in his throat and one in his open mouth. Alicia screamed at the sound of the blade's impacts. To save him from further harm, she covered his body with her own.
The dark elf leapt from the trees, landing next to the carriage. He pointed a cruel dagger at Alicia and stepped forward.
"Leave him alone!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. The assassin let out a scream of pain along with her shout, his pupils growing wide as he dropped to his knees clutching his ears. As his cries of pain drew out, Alicia pulled her grandfather's body tightly to her own, watching the shrieking dark elf with confusion.
Falling to his hands and knees, the dark elf pushed himself back to his feet and darted into the trees at full sprint, still letting out pained cries between breaths. Alicia watched him retreat, soon jerking her own body away from the corpse she held in her arms. 'What had happened,' she thought to herself as she watched the dark elf's path of retreat.
Darkness had fallen upon the forest before Alicia could force herself to move from the carriage. The face of the assassin had burned itself into her memory; she neither tried to remember or regretted the fact that she had. Before where pain of loss had rested within her heart now was only hatred. She now concentrated on the visage of her fathers' killer, finding that she could sense the direction in which he lay.
Cold and emotionless, Alicia slipped down from the carriage, picking up the black blade the dark elf had left behind. She twirled the dagger in her hands, her eyes tracing over every inch. Upon the hilt rested a silver "X", and the metal was polished to look like obsidian glass. She clutched the cruel blade in her fist, bringing it behind her head to cut her pony tail free from her head. She then looked upon the blade for another moment before slipping it into her belt.
Turning to face the carriage and her grandfather's body, she took in a deep breath and gave an assuring nod. She stepped closer and took the bow and quiver which lay at his feet, taking a second to admire the gold engravings along the green wood. Her eyes looked upon her grandfather one last time, then she turned and started to walk down the path the dark elf had taken.
"You will die by my hand," she spoke determined with clenched teeth, "this I swear."
That night, two outcasts were born; one by force, the other by necessity.
As is my intented style of writing, each novel I write will be predated by a short story. The story should be able to stand alone without the novel, and the novel should stand alone without the story; both compliment each other.
In this case, the associated novel, Outcasts, will follow the paths of Alicia and the assassin. The conflict between the humans and elves has escalated and is now only one incident away from outright war. What will happen? You'll have to wait and see (I doubt I'll write the novel till after I start teaching, since I'll have more time once I'm out of school).
I hate you now!
I want more. It was very good and compelling. I want to stop reading to post a couple of times what I am going to post below, but I had to keep reading. Now I want MORE!! I want to know what happens next and I hate you for that. :P
Anyway now I can exact my revenge
Since you probably have this in a file I'm just going to point them out, but if you need to know which post they are in I can tell you.
QuoteHer smooth gate...
Should be gait unless she has a smooth opening.[/i]
QuoteShe stood a half-foot taller than Alicia, with pale freckled skin and straight black hair. Her features were slender and simple, somewhere between plain and beautiful. Her long dark brown hair hung free upon her back, except for two braids extending from her bangs, framing her head like a tiara
So which is it does she have black or brown hair?[/i]
Quote. The pace of the solders slowed as the night went on. Feet stumbled, spears tipped, and the sounds of yawns now drift lazily through the air.
. As three solders exited a room and walked towards the intruder, he quickly hid within a shadow and waited for them to pass. One of the guards was Stephen, and the three passed the dark elf without notice.
Now instead of soldiers the have thin pieces of metal used for electronics?[/i]
Quote from: NeptuneHer smooth gate... Should be gait unless she has a smooth opening.
Whoa, bud! This site is PG-13! ;)
That's what I thought!
Hahaha; wow. My mentor didn't even catch that. That's amazing. Hahahaha.
Neptune, I'll give you a tidbit. The assassin's name is Xeviat.
Of course his name had be Xeviat. :P
I may have to start reading the campaign setting. Is there anything more than the teaser in the Homebrew Forums? Do I have to search the WotC boards for it? The link in your sig opens up about::blank for me, but when I mouseover it I see it just links to these forums.
I fixed the link. There are some things on the WotC boards, but I wouldn't recommend searching for them. Since I have a fan, I'll put some energy into cleaning up the introduction. I'm still working on one last class, and then the difficult mechanical work will be done; I just don't want to start posting stuff that will be changed (I'm okay with "might be", "could be", or "probably will be" changed, but not "will be").
I'll get the intro and history posted soon. It's a "normal" setting for the most part, so it shouldn't be hard to get to know.
Well if you need help with the class you are working on, I will help if I can.
I desire more. This is awesome.
Quote from: NomadicI desire more. This is awesome.
That's what I said... :D
You people are all about the threadcromancy lately.
I can cast raise thread without any material components... I am just that awesome.
Just an update; I started writing but I wrote myself into a corner, and realized that I need to start the story a bit differently than I was (what's posted here is the prologue). But my writer's block seems to be gone, so updates should be coming soon.