unwanted elves 21

 

Unwanted Elves

Chapter 21

 

“The Book of Djehuti, who or what was Djehuti?” Tancyfrwys and Blaithamlwg echoed one another.

“Djehuti was Archon of Agerak,” I began, “And in addition he was a wizard of great power, knowledge and wisdom. He was Archon a very long time ago, I can’t remember which dynasty Djehuti was a member of.”

“The eighteenth, I checked.” Said Chessina.

“Thank you,” I replied. “Djehuti’s father was Archon before him, and was murdered by one of his wives.”

“Wives? They had more than one?” Said Tancyfrwys, startled.

“It was, and I believe still is the custom.” I replied. “It’s recorded that Djehuti’s father had 200 wives, although I find that a suspiciously round number, but that’s by the by. He was murdered by one of his wives, who through magical means was trying to get her son Sekemhef declared Archon.”

“Sekemhef, that’s the same name as the demon in the Second Favour.”  Blaithamlwg said.

“Yes, it’s the same person,” I continued, “You know him better as Prydythaur.”

Tancyfrwys’ and Blaithamlwg’s mouths dropped open, and Tancyfrwys went very pale.

“That’s... that’s so long ago, he’s so very... old...” Tancyfrwys’ voice trailed off. Blaithamlwg gently moved her to the bed, sat her down, and sat beside her with his arm around her shoulders.

“Sekemhef’s mother was executed, but Sekemhef himself was never found, although the search went on for many years. Djehuti was a wise and just ruler, and Agerak prospered under his rule.” I went on, being in full lecture mode at this point.

“Wizards and other great thinkers flocked to the Archon’s court from all over the known world and there was a great flowering of knowledge.” I continued. “The Royal Library of the Archon of Agerak was like a bright jewel containing much of humankind’s learning. Towards the end of his life, it is said that somehow, Djehuti placed his entire journals on six scrolls as the centrepiece of the library. His successors continued his wise policies, and then Agerak had a lot of problems. Was it the next dynasty that this happened to?”

I turned to Chessina.

“Yes, it was the nineteenth, which was founded after the last of Djehuti’s descendents died childless.” Chessina lectured, carrying on where I had left off. “During the reign of the second Archon of that dynasty there were several poor harvests in a row despite the best efforts of the priests, and then next year the crops failed completely, in what was called ‘the year of the scavengers’, when such beasts came out of the desert and into the cities. There was a shortage of grain, and mobs attacked and looted the royal granaries, and whatever else could be found. In the confusion fires broke out, and the royal library was gutted.”

For a moment, all were silent, as we contemplated the knowledge that had been lost.

“A nearby noble, who was also the local military commander, mobilised his troops, put down the rioting and restored some semblance of order.”  Chessina went on. “Agerak subsequently broke apart into several kinglets ruled by strongmen. It was over a century later that one was powerful enough to unify the country again. His capital became the new capital of Agerak, and Djehuti’s city, while not totally abandoned, was a shadow of its former self.”

I could see that Chessina had been brushing up on Agerakian history, as well as the ancient Agerakian language. She had insisted that I brush up on it too. I wondered if this were due to a hint by Arcana, Chessina’s intuition, or her logical deductions. I didn’t think I’d ponder the question too closely, I might not like the answer.

“But there is a persistent rumour, among wizards and scholars, that the Book of Djehuti was rescued from his library before the fire. And this appears to be it.” I interjected.

“I wonder how Sekemhef got his hands on it.”  Chessina mused.

“That,” I replied, “Is a very good question. I suspect he charmed his way into the library, and set a fire to cover his escape.”

“When Iespr doesn’t come back, I’m sure Prydythaur will come for the Book himself,” Chessina said, “He will not leave it behind, as it’s far too valuable.”

“We need to move it to a safe place,” I said, “And by the way Tancyfrwys, I have been meaning to ask, where are those magic weapons that have been made?”

“They are in my tower, Towermaster.”  She paused, and giggled. I’d never heard an elf giggle before; perhaps there was hope for them. “That sounded very silly.”  She continued.

“My name is Castamir, if you would care to use it.” I remarked, “After all we are working together to stop a war and do unpleasantnesses to Prydythaur. A moment, your tower, I didn’t see a tower when looking about the city? Where is it?”

“It’s on the top of a hill some way from the royal tree. You might not have noticed it. It’s disguised by an illusion to look like a tree, when it was built the then king found a tower aesthetically unpleasing. He decreed it was to be disguised by illusion, and it’s remained that way ever since.” Tancyfrwys explained.

It seemed that the anti-illusion ointment wasn’t as powerful as I thought. It could dispel minor illusions, but not powerful permanent ones, such as the tower. It was probable that Prydythaur’s appearance was provided by a magic item of some power, not a minor illusion spell.

“Forgive me asking, Tancyfrwys, but can Prydythaur get into your tower easily? Could he bypass any safeguards and enter the tower? I don’t want to put the Book anywhere he could get to.” Said Chessina.

“No... He doesn’t know how to get in the tower, he didn’t want to come in at all when I invited him.”  Tancyfrwys explained. “He kept coming up with excuses.”

“I think he was afraid to go in the tower, in case it dispelled the illusions.” Chessina remarked.

Interesting, I used to call the Tower my tower, after Chessina arrived we called it our tower. It seemed that Tancyfrwys didn’t have as much connection to the elven tower as we had to ours.

“What happened about the manufacture of the magical weapons? I had assumed that you collaborated in making them.”  I asked.

“I think that was His... Sekemhef’s intention. Pardon me,” Tancyfrwys continued, “It would be easier for me to think of him as Sekemhef. When he got close to the tower he changed his mind and gave some excuse that only a magic user should create the weapons. He left pleading illness. The next day, he gave me a parchment containing precise instructions on how to make the weapons, that he had ‘picked up on his travels’. I wasn’t thinking clearly by this point.”

Chessina touched her arm comfortingly.

“After he’d been stamping through your mind, that’s hardly surprising.” Chessina said.

“Forgive me for hurrying you Tancyfrwys, but I’d like to get a look at those weapons soon, before Sekemhef gets impatient and turns up here.”  I said.

“You’re right Tower... Castamir,” Tancyfrwys said, getting up. “I’ll take you to the tower.”

“I’ll carry the Book.” I said, putting the scrolls in the capacious pockets in my robes.

So saying she got up and led us all out of Prydythaur/Sekemhef’s room and down the royal tower. We then followed a narrow path going towards a small hill surmounted by a tall slender tree dwelling with few staircases and platforms. As we walked the group were looked at with curiosity and some trepidation. With the upheavals happening recently I’m sure rumour abounded amongst the elven populace.

We had got almost to the summit of the hill when there was a shimmer in the air, and the tree which we had apparently been nearing, blurred and changed into a stone built wizards tower. I hadn’t noticed Tancyfrwys doing anything to cancel the spell. Was it automatic on someone approaching inside a set radius? Something to consider enquiring about later.

Being the soul of tact and discretion that I am, and in reality not wanting to upset Tancyfrwys further, I managed not to say, ‘it that it?’” I did think it though. Beside me I could tell that Chessina was thinking it too. I’m not sure if Silavara was thinking it as well as she had her serene expression on.

The tower was tall and looked wide enough to be stable, but the proportions were subtly wrong somehow. I was then struck by the realisation that this tower was trying to be an imitation of our Tower, but not really... making the grade. It wasn’t tall enough by any means, which didn’t surprise me as, being all in one piece, our tower – The Tower, was much stronger than anything constructed piecemeal, even if that was subsequently fused together.

 We all went in the tower door, which did open at Tancyfrwys’ gesture, I did wonder if she was going to have to use a key, and we entered the vestibule. As I looked around bare and stark room which took up the whole ground floor and went up three stories, the word that popped into my mind to describe the place was ‘bleak’. I turned to Tancyfrwys and asked,

“I noticed that you have rooms in the royal tree, do you live there the whole time, and not in your tower?”

“No. I only come here to work.” She replied.

“Oh.” I said, not being able to think of anything to say. The Tower was so much a part of our lives, I couldn’t imagine not living there.

To my shock and surprise Tancyfrwys burst into tears and threw herself into my arms. Chessina glared jealously at Tancyfrwys for a moment, then gently steered Blaithamlwg the other side of her. I felt Chessina casting spells, and as I eased myself out of Tancyfrwys’ grasp, I looked about and saw that the vestibule was now graced with two comfortable looking upholstered armchairs, a sofa of similar design which looked cosy for two people and a low table with a tea set on it. Chessina was busy pouring tea.

I was so proud of her for pulling off a most magnificent conjuration. Calling on the Tower, I permanenced her creations, which I knew she would have difficulty doing. I managed to manoeuvre Tancyfrwys and Blaithamlwg towards the sofa and got them sat down. Now Blaithamlwg was not only holding Tancyfrwys, but unable to move away from her. I glanced at Chessina and was rewarded with a smile, I had divined her intent correctly.

“Now, Tancyfrwys, dry your eyes and drink a cup of tea, you’ll feel better.” Chessina said, in a firm, no nonsense tone. Tancyfrwys did manage to sip some tea and wipe her face with a handkerchief Blaithamlwg provided.

“Oh, Tow.... Castamir, Chessina, I feel so unsure of what’s going on.” Tancyfrwys said, her voice still thick with tears. “You’ve made this room cosy, and I didn’t even know what cosy was before. You’ve been so kind to me, and I’ve been afraid of your coming as my master told me long ago that Towermasters are hard and cruel and knew terrible secrets about us and would use them against us. And you have used them against us, but you’ve saved my life and you and Chessina have been so kind. Your master wasn’t cruel, but he was stern and forbidding, and I knew you would be the next Towermaster, so... so when you were here with Harmon I thought if I could make you afraid of me, you wouldn’t be so scary when you grew up.

“I know Harmon could be stern when he needed to be, but he was the kindest of men.” I said. “I.. I’m rather shocked, but at least I know now that it wasn’t anything I had done, nor was it a  general hatred of humans, which is what I had thought.

“Then He... Pryd... Sekemhef tried to kill me,” Tancyfrwys continued, “And you saved my life, and Chessina and Silavara helped me and were so kind... I feel so confused...” Here Tancyfrwys burst into tears again. Blaithamlwg cuddled her and stroked her back and murmured comforting words to her until she calmed down. Poor woman, and I never dreamed I would think that of her before coming here. She was frightened when we arrived, as well as having her mind trampled through by Prydythaur/Sekemhef. Then he tried to kill her, and then Arcana turns up in a dream telling her things she really didn’t want to hear. Tancyfrwys had been through a lot lately.

“In my dream Arcana told me that our Gods are all false, and that I’ve been getting my magic from her, not... not the one I thought provided it. Arcana said I would be wise not to say his name again. She said it was all bound up with the First Favour. Please will you tell me what that is.”

“Didn’t you look at the parchment Castamir gave the King?” Chessina asked.

“No, the King took it away with him and burned it.” Said Tancyfrwys. “Will you tell me Castamir?”

“I will, although you won’t like it.” I replied, “However I think you need to hear it, and I think Blaithamlwg does too.”

I settled myself down after removing the scrolls from my robes, and took a drink of tea from the cup Chessina had poured me. I smiled gratefully at Chessina as this was a proper cup of tea, not the various... liquids... that I had been provided with when I asked for tea. They were uniformly vile. As I put my cup down, the two elves looked at me expectantly.

“This goes back to the nature of the fey, as elves among others are in decent from them.”  I began, “The fey aren’t native to this world, they seem to have come from somewhere...else. They share with demons a certain mutability of form.”

“Are they related to demons, Castamir?”  Blaithamlwg asked.

“I don’t know, although written elvish is similar to written Abyssal.” I replied. “Demons can form solid bodies, which the High Fey don’t seem to be able to, for very long at least. They tried many methods to gain solidity. Some fey managed to merge with trees and became dryads, tying themselves to their trees. They are all female and require a mortal to breed with draining some of his life energy to do so. Other fey managed to merge with horses. This merging is more successful in some ways than that of dryads, in that centaurs can breed without outside assistance, due to the rear end of the horses having their...” I wondered how to put this firmly not looking at Chessina as I knew she was laughing at me.  “... Hrrmmm, generative organs. However, the result isn’t fully humanoid.”

I drank some more tea, took a deep breath and continued.

“Those fey that wanted to become fully humanoid asked the then Towermaster for aid. The details of the negotiations aren’t recorded but the Towermaster did do as he was asked, and the elves were created by merging the fey with... humans.”

Tancyfrwys and Blaithamlwg stared open mouthed in shock, rendered speechless, the colour draining from their faces.

 “Which means,” Chessina said pointedly, “That those you despise as half-elves are in fact quarter-elves, while you are the half-elves.”

“And you owe a debt to those humans, who agreed to join with fey, without whom you wouldn’t even be.” I continued, reiterating her comment.

After a while, Blaithamlwg managed to speak,

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Forgive the interruption,” Said Chessina, “But I’d like to see about dealing with the magic weapons. I have a feeling that time is pressing.”