Unwanted Elves
Chapter 31
We arrived back at the tower of wizardry somewhat after the rest of the group together with Corrund. When we entered the assembled company looked up in surprise.
“I don’t believe I know your companion, Castamir.” Said Blaithamlwg, looking askance at the new arrival. “Perhaps you would introduce us.”
“Your Majesty, your Royal Highnesses, Chancellor Blaithamlwg and Royal Wizard Tancyfrwys, also Silavara Priestess of the Goddess Silvana.” I began, “Permit me to present Goodelf Corrund. He aided Chessina and myself on a most perilous quest that we undertook at risk of our lives.
Did I see a flash of amusement on Corrund’s features during my introduction. If so, it was very brief as Corrund bowed low.
“Corrund: Her Majesty Queen Ariannaith, Her consort Prince Cyfaill, Queen Saillegwyn the Queen Mother, Chancellor Blaithamlwg and Royal Wizard Tancyfrwys also Priestess Silavara.” I said, indicating those present.
“Castamir,” Said Blaithamlwg pointedly, “Last time an elf that I did not recognise came among us, it was Sekemhef and he almost brought destruction upon us. What do you know of Corrund?”
“As I said, Corrund assisted Chessina and me and acted as our guide.” I said, not wishing to go into too many specifics on either the nature of the quest, nor into Corrund’s identity, about which I was beginning to have some suspicions. “The quest resulted in the banishment of the father of Sekemhef, whose name I will not utter. Unfortunately he was not destroyed. I believe that Corrund is trustworthy.” And I sincerely hoped that was correct. “He has a relationship with the tower and Arcana would vouch for him.”
Blaithamlwg glanced at Tancyfrwys who nodded and I felt the surge of magic directed at me, Chessina and I presumed Corrund also.
“Neither Castamir, Chessina nor Corrund are magically charmed.” Tancyfrwys announced.
“That is good to know,” Said Blaithamlwg, “I would still like to know, Corrund what is your purpose in coming to this city.”
“In general, to carry out the wishes of My Lord Emaxtiphrael.” Corrund said, causing a gasp of surprise from the elves present. As we had told the tale of the recovery of Chessina’s soul, Silavara knew Corrund as a servant of Emaxtiphrael. “Specifically, I am to take charge of the soul of Sekemhef that you Chessina, have trapped in the soul mirror.”
“Emaxtiphrael, God of Wisdom and Death?” Said Tancyfrwys, regaining her voice.
“Even so.” Corrund replied gravely.
“You are a priest of Emaxtiphrael?” Asked Saillegwyn.
“My Lord has no organised priesthood, but I and others do what he wishes done.” Corrund replied.
“How did you know that Chessina had trapped Sekemhef?” Asked Blaithamlwg, suspiciously.
“Such a mirror works by the grace of Arcana.” Corrund said, “And as you have learned from the ... loquacious elder Castamir, Arcana is the wife of My Lord Emaxtiphrael. Sekemhef owes a debt to My Lord.”
“A debt?” I queried, puzzled.
“Sekemhef has lived for a very long time.” Corrund said, “Partly that is due to his nature as a half-demon, but he has also extended his life by vile rituals that consumed the souls of those he sacrificed. Those souls should have legitimately come to My Lord to send on to their destinations. My Lord believes that fragments of those souls exist within Sekemhef’s soul and he intends to extract them from Sekemhef and heal those souls as best he can. He hopes to guide them on to their proper destinations, or to remain in the Place of Waiting as his servants.
In addition, My Lord is most disturbed by the draining of elven life energy by those claiming to be elven gods. They are not true gods although they are very powerful. My Lord wishes to know more about this phenomenon. Incidentally Tancyfrwys, I trust you are feeling better now that Sekemhef is no longer draining your life energy.”
“He was doing that to me, how?” Asked Tancyfrwys horrified.
“He seems to have had some of the abilities of succcubi, who can drain life energy during intimate moments.” Corrund continued, “But this requires physical contact, while the so-called gods can do so at a distance. My Lord wishes this to be investigated.
“We seem to be involved rather more with the affairs of the Gods than is comfortable.” Saillegwyn said.
“Many are involved without even realising it.” Said Corrund, smiling at Saillegwyn. “And such involvement can be a source of joy; ask Castamir, Chessina and Silavara.”
As Corrund spoke my love for Arcana flooded through me which I’m sure showed on my face. Chessina’s and Silavara’s faces equally showed love for their respective Goddesses.
“It certainly can be,” I said, “It is not always comfortable however.”
“Growth is not always comfortable, but is usually good.” Replied Corrund.
Into the silence this rather profound statement had engendered I turned to Queen Ariannaith.
“Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness,” I indicated Prince Cyfaill, “I believe that the danger of war between the elves and others is over, and this is what we came to achieve. We have a treaty that, once amended to outlaw slavery should be the basis of good relations between our various peoples. Accordingly I ask formal permission of Your Majesty to depart your lands and return home.”
“This is a little sudden Towermaster Castamir.” Ariannaith said. “You and your companions have wrought many changes. I... I suppose I hoped that you would stay to help properly settle them in.”
“I think Your Majesty,” Said Chessina, “That would be a bad idea. It is up to you and your advisors to sort out the details and problems. That way you would be seen to be your own woman, not subordinate to foreigners, and the changes will be seen to be elven changes not those of outsiders. You and your advisors are perfectly able to deal with any problems. Blaithamlwg and Tancyfrwys are loyal and extremely capable. You have a helpmate in Cyfaill, your husband, and the support of the half-elven Enclave. Sekemhef’s sycophants had their charms broken and are leaderless. The obvious favour of the centaurs will be a counterbalance to any restive members of the nobility. Believe in yourself Your Majesty, and in your advisors.”
“Besides Your Majesty, Ariannaith if I may, you and your husband were loth to interrupt your honeymoon, Chessina and I had to leave ours to deal with the brewing war. We are glad to have done so, and to have made new friends on the way, but we need to resume our lives. We have a foster daughter to care for and a new apprentice to train.” I stated.
“And I have my own duties to get back to and Sirrit to look after.” Silavara added.
“I shall miss you,” Said Tancyfrwys, “And I never thought to say that to a human.”
“I shall miss you too.” Added Blaithamlwg.
“You are always welcome to visit, and as the Tower was instrumental in creating the foundations of the palace it now knows where the city is, so it knows where to send letters, so we can keep in touch.” I said. “And speaking of keeping in touch Your Majesty, perhaps you and your advisors would choose ambassadors to send to the courts of King Thorogar of the main dwarven kingdom, and King Beremar of Ezustry. Might I suggest that initially you send only two to each kingdom, an ambassador and an aide. More could be sent later if required.”
“Might I also suggest Your Majesty, that these be chosen from among the half elven.” Said Chessina, “We have just averted a war, we would like to avoid another one, and some elves can be very... abrasive... to others.”
Tancyfrwys opened her mouth and looked annoyed, then shut it and smiled ruefully.
“With your permission Majesty,” Said Corrund, “We will leave you to your deliberations and withdraw. I have an important matter to discuss with Castamir and Chessina.”
The Queen nodded and we left Ariannaith and the other elves who began talking earnestly. When we were in our room, Chessina turned to Corrund,
“What is it you wished to discuss Corrund, or should I say My Lord Emaxtiphrael?”
“Ah, I was thinking along the same lines.” I said.
“How did you know?” Emaxtiphrael said, not bothering to deny it.
“This body was created by Arcana, and retains an... echo I suppose you would call it, of her personality. Corrund... resonated with the echo. It took me a little while to figure out what that meant.” Chessina explained.
“Your words as Corrund were rather ambiguous, and you never once said that Emaxtiphrael had told you to do something.” I added, “Also Arcana likes to be personally involved in things. I didn’t think she’d marry someone who didn’t do likewise. Chessina’s soul staying in the Place of Waiting was unprecedented and you wouldn’t leave a matter that important to a servant.”
“I am glad that my beloved wife has such perspicacious followers.” Emaxtiphrael said.
“Now My Lord Emaxtiphrael,” Said Chessina, “What is it you want?”
“Sekemhef and the soul trapping mirror.” He replied, “I want that in my hands before Sekemhef manages to escape. I also want the mirror, I don’t really want that kind of artefact in circulation. It disturbs my count.” He added with a smile.
“Could Sekemhef really escape?” I said, “I didn’t think it was possible.”
“I not sure he can, but I’m equally unsure that he can’t.” Said Emaxtiphrael, “Chessina has said that demons are variable in their abilities, and half-demons are very rare so their capabilities are unknown. I’m not prepared to take the risk.”
Chessina went to our bags and took out the wrapped mirror and handed it to Emaxtiphrael.
“I’m very glad to be rid of it and Sekemhef,” She said, “Neither Castamir nor I were sure what to do with it.”
“Don’t worry, I am.” Replied Emaxtiphrael. “In addition I want to see if he knows anything about how... Fishface... delightful name for him by the way, was able to place a soul into the Place of Waiting and keep it there.”
“My Lord...” I began.
“Just call me Emaxtiphrael.” He replied, “I was using very formal speech to misdirect people as to my true identity. You call my wife just Arcana after all.”
“I find it very difficult to grasp... Emaxtiphrael, that I’m standing in our room talking in person to a God.” I said. “Oh I’m forgetting my manners, please sit.”
“Thank you,” Emaxtiphrael replied. “It’s a little difficult to explain, but I’m not fully here. The full physical presence of a God or Goddess would be... well overwhelming would be an understatement. As to.... yes chatting, Arcana and I are very fond of you both, and yes, you are both important to us too.”
I reached out my hand and took Chessina’s in my own.
“That’s somewhat daunting to realise.” Said Chessina, “I have rather an unfair advantage in dealing with deities, having had a long chat with Arcana, after we had defeated Fishface.”
“I’ve been thinking about that entire incident, and occasionally having nightmares about it, for a while.” I said. Chessina gave my hand a comforting squeeze.
“I know about the nightmares.” She said simply. “I have them too.” I returned the squeeze of the hand.
“Emaxtiphrael,” I began, “A soul staying in the Place of Waiting had never happened before, had it?”
“No, it was absolutely unprecedented.” He replied.
“I think it’s safe to assume, that if Fishface could have done so before, he would have done.” I said.
“That seems logical.” Emaxtiphrael replied.
“Then I think it also safe to assume that as Shareen was the sacrifice whose soul was stored in your realm, Emaxtiphrael, that Fishface learned how to do this either from, or through Agravar, Shareen’s brother.” I finished.
“That does seem plausible on the surface,” Said Emaxtiphrael, “But how could a ‘half-baked, petty minded inadequate little degenerate’ as I think Chessina described him to Arcana, learn to do something so incredible.”
I groaned.
“We never did look through all of Agravar’s books did we?” I asked Chessina.
“No. Once Dragovar discovered the location of the cellar where Agravar kept Shareen’s bones and the soul trapping mirror, we gratefully stopped reading the rest of them.” Chessina replied. “But we did take them back to the tower, just in case Elinne got curious about her great-uncle’s writings.”
“Oh well, when we return we had better go through the loathsome works of that half-baked, petty minded inadequate little degenerate. Just as well that we are unspeakable brave.” I remarked flippantly.
Emaxtiphrael gave a slight smile. “You do underestimate yourself, at times. It’s not just bravery, you have some extraordinarily cogent insights at times. I have a hunch that when you are dealing with Fishface, as I’m sure you will at some point, you may learn something valuable about the High Fey.”
At which point he gave me a cheeky grin, and said,
“I know you find it extraordinarily irritating when a piece of information is put in your mind. You’re not alone, sometimes the Commissioner does it to us too.”
“Commissioner?” I queried.
Emaxtiphrael looked grave,
“There are things we don’t commonly share with mortals, because a lot of mortals get... over exercised over the whole concept. You know this isn’t the only world in existence in the material plane. This is the more complex bit, there are other worlds around other stars, but there are also other dimensions. The Commissioner of Eternity is in charge of all of these, and he delegates the day to day workings of these worlds to beings you call gods. The High Fey managed to kill their Gods and destroy their world, more I hasten to add, through ineptitude than design and fled the wrath of the Commissioner of Eternity, rather pointless really. But we needed to wait until there were...”
“Pieces on the board, that could deal with them?” I said cynically.
“I wouldn’t have put in so insulting a way myself.” Emaxtiphrael replied. “People with the correct qualities to succeed.”
“Why do you need mortals at all?” Chessina asked. “Surely if the Gods couldn’t deal with the High Fey, the Commissioner could.”
“A war between gods, or even those beings near to gods could be disastrous.” Emaxtiphrael replied. “The energies released could damage, or even rip apart the very fabric of the universe.”
I have remarked before that wizards possess some really uncomfortable knowledge, but I think this went rather beyond uncomfortable.
“Castamir?” Chessina said.
“Yes, love.” I replied.
“I’m sure a rather inept wizard like Agravar didn’t think up the spell to hold a soul on the Place of Waiting by himself.”
“Granted.” I said.
“So where did he get it from?” Chessina said. “Where else but the school of wizardry that he attended.”
“Dragovar remarked that due to scandal the school was closed down.” I said, “I’m sure they had an archive. I wonder what happened to that?”
“We’ll have to check when we get back.” Chessina said.
Emaxtiphrael gave an enigmatic smile, such a useful expression and said,
“Arcana and I knew you two were the correct people for the task.”
As we were chatting to a God in an affable mood, and I might never get another chance, I asked something I had always wondered,
“Emaxtiphrael, you mentioned a hunch earlier, can Gods see the future.”
“No.” He replied firmly. “The future isn’t fixed, as there are countless possible outcomes. Gods estimate probabilities and possibilities in their subconscious minds and get what are called hunches. So do mortals for that matter. It’s just that we can take more things into account than mortals can and so our hunches tend to be more accurate.
Now, you need time to assimilate what we have discussed, you also need to pack before returning home and I have things to do.”
Emaxtiphrael stood and then bent to kiss each of us on the forehead.
“Arcana sends her love.” He said, and swiftly left the room.
