The Elvish Question 3

 

The Elvish Question

Chapter 3

 

"Dragovar," I began, while we were at lunch in his tower, "I need to ask you a favour."

"After your recent comments, I'm not sure you deserve one." Dragovar said with a jaundiced expression. He sighed, "Tell me anyway."

"The dagger Demonslicer that you lent me on our way to recover Chessina's soul," I said, "I would like to ask the dwarves to reforge it to be more deadly to Fishface. Would you mind?"

"Castamir, my friend, I should have made clear, Demonslicer is yours." Dragovar said. "You need it far more than I do."

"Thank you Dragovar, that is a kingly gift." I replied, and indeed it was. The worth of such an item was incalculable and Dragovar had freely given it to me. I felt humbled by his generosity and realised once again how good a friend he was.

"What process are the dwarves going to use to reforge the blade?" Asked Dragovar. "Or is it some dwarven craft secret known only to favoured outsiders such as yourself and your late master Harmon?"

"I have a material component that Chessina obtained from Fishface when she escaped from him." I replied. I wasn't going to tell Dragovar that it was a piece of the claw that Fishface was molesting her intimately with, before Chessina kicked him in the cods and ran.

"Ah, that makes it a lot easier." said Dragovar.

"Can you arrange an interview with Sigeralv the Dwarven ambassador for me, Dragovar?" I asked, "I don't suppose the dwarves will mind me visiting, but I don't like to assume so."

"I'll see if I can arrange one for later this afternoon," Dragovar replied.

"I was going to make a special journey to the dwarven capital but I don't want to spend too much time, so I'll stop there on the way to the Elven Court." I said. "I'll ask Priestess Oakheart if she would mind going on a slight detour."

"Won't the priestess mind about having to go underground in a dwarven city," Tasayne remarked, "serving the goddess of wild nature as she does I would imagine she would hate it."

"I don't know if she'd mind or not," I replied, "but the idea that all dwarves live eternally underground is a myth. Admittedly the mines and most of the workshops are underground, but they herd goats and a type of semi-domesticated mountain sheep. Although the dwarves get most of their food in trade they do grow some crops above ground including barley and potatoes. Their mushroom farms though are extensive and some of the mushrooms are absolutely delicious, although some are definitely an acquired taste . . . one I haven't acquired yet."

"Is it true that dwarves are extremely prolific drinkers?" Asked Dragovar.

"Yes, and that reminds me of something," I said, "Chessina, with your new body, do you still have an immunity to poisons such as demons have?"

"Arcana told me that I have resistance to poison not a demonic type immunity; although there are poisons that can affect demons. Thank you for giving me the same type of amulet against poisons that you gave Castamir, Dragovar." Chessina said. "Why do you ask Castamir?"

"It's to do with dwarven drinks, Dragovar's question just reminded me." I replied. "While dwarven beers are safe for humans to drink, and they are excellent, by the way, dwarven spirits are toxic. They have wood alcohol in them which can lead in humans to blindness, brain damage and death. Dwarves are fairly resistant to most poisons so it doesn't affect them."

"I'll remember Castamir," Chessina said, "besides, if I avoid dwarven spirits I won't give away that I have a special sort of body."

"Believe me, my love," I said to Chessina, "your body is extremely special." I was rewarded by a blush.

"Please Castamir, not at luncheon, you'll upset the servants." Said Tasayne with a grin.

"Why do you think I prefer magical invisible servants to human ones?" I replied giving her a broad wink.

"I have an after lunch treat for you all." Dragovar announced towards the end of the meal.

"What is it?" Chorused Chessina and Tasayne. I gave Dragovar a jaundiced look. Untrusting, me?

"I am going to teach you all the spell frost ray," he continued, "it is quite potent against demons. Considering the current circumstances it seems a good thing to know."

"Thank you Dragovar." I said. Learning a spell quickly was very hard work, but I didn't mind that for the chance of improving my spell arsenal.

"Frost ray is quite a powerful spell," Dragovar explained, "so Tasayne and Chessina might be quite fatigued after using it. That won't apply to you Castamir as you are both a more experienced wizard and have the power of the tower to draw on, at least while you hold your staff."

I nodded agreement. I wasn't going to tell Dragovar, friend though he was, that I could connect to the tower and draw on its power without the staff. Only one living person knew the real secret of the towermaster, and that was Chessina.

 

oOo

 

"Thank you for seeing me at such short notice, Ambassador Sigeralv." I said, giving the dwarven greeting salute Harmon had taught me for our first visit to the dwarves, so many years ago.

"Think nothing of it, Towermaster Castamir, I am glad to see you again," Sigeralv replied, "Please sit." He gestured me to a chair and I lowered myself onto it with some care. The furniture in the ambassador's apartments was sized for dwarves and therefore low for a human. My legs stretched out quite a way forward when I was seated. "What may I do for you?"

"Before I get to that, I need to ask if you have been informed about the current problem with the elves?"

"Yes, Royal Wizard Dragovar has kept me abreast of the situation," Sigeralv replied, "I take it that your unexpected arrival at court and your subsequent audience with their majesties, without servants, has something to do with it?"

"You are well informed, ambassador." I said

"It's part of my duties." Sigeralv replied with a deprecating gesture.

"As you correctly surmised I am here about the Elvish question," I stated, "We have a plan to deal with the problem. I hope you don't mind if I don't give you the details, even the king doesn't know the entirety of the scheme."

"Candidly, I do mind, towermaster; but I also understand the necessity for secrecy." Sigeralv said, "Excessive curiosity is almost a requirement for the position of ambassador."

"What I hope your . . . informants have not discovered is that we suspect demonic influence in elvish politics."

"No, I was not aware of that." Sigeralv replied, "That is most disturbing news."

"This brings me to the main purpose of my visit," I said. Sigeralv sat forward in his chair, listening intently. "I have recently gained a new personal enemy, who unfortunately is a demon of some power."

"Is this demon involved in the current situation?" The ambassador asked, stroking his luxuriant beard.

"I don't know, but I have to assume he is until I know more details," I replied, "And because of this I must ask a favour of your people."

"What is it?" Asked Sigeralv.

"I have a dagger enchanted to cause great damage to any demon. It is called 'Demonslicer' and is of dwarven make." I explained. "I have a piece of claw from the demon himself and I request that the blade be reforged to make the weapon deadly to him personally. We call the demon 'Fishface' as we don't know his Truename although we are searching for that."

"May I see Demonslicer?" Sigeralv asked.

"Certainly." I replied, handing over the dagger, hilt first.

Sigeralv examined the blade closely, turning it over in his hands.

"As you thought, the dagger was made by my people," Sigeralv said, looking narrowly at me, "May I ask how you obtained it?"

"It is a gift from the Royal Wizard," I replied, "Why, is it stolen?" I added as the thought struck me.

"I am not suggesting that, Towermaster," said the ambassador, "But if this blade is the one I think it might be, it disappeared from our records a long time ago. However, be that as it may, under the circumstances I will arrange for the reforging as you request."

"Thank you ambassador, I appreciate that. I am in your debt." I said, earnestly. I felt relieved that I would soon have a potent weapon against Fishface.

"Will you be going directly to our capital, towermaster?" asked Sigeralv.

"I will set out tomorrow, but I must make a short return to the tower, ambassador," I replied, "I then thought to make a detour to your capital on the way to the Elven Court."

"I will write to our king recommending that he approve your request, towermaster." Sigeralv said, "Would you mind carrying my other messages when you go?"

"Not in the least, ambassador." I replied

"In that case I wish you success in your endeavours; both the ones you have told me about, and those that you haven't." Sigeralv rose as he said this, indicating that the interview was over. After we had each made the appropriate departing gesture, I left.

 

oOo

 

Later that night, when we were in bed Chessina asked me, "What is the dream that people are going to have tonight about, Castamir?"

"I am about to be granted the services of another apprentice, Chessina," I said, "And some of her training will devolve onto you."

"Her?" Chessina almost snarled, her expression flinty.

"You needn't be jealous, love." I said. "She's ten years old."

"Oh. Who is she?" Chessina asked, sounding mollified.

"I'll let Dragovar reveal that. He'll need something to keep his spirits up as he will have to talk to her parents very fast indeed." I replied. I proceeded to forestall any further questions by kissing Chessina passionately which lead to more enjoyable ways of keeping her occupied.

 

oOo

 

Chessina and I rose early and ate a hearty breakfast before our journey home. We were joined by Tasayne who explained that Dragovar had something important to do. We had almost finished when a royal footman entered.

"Towermaster Castamir, Apprentice Chessina and Apprentice Tasayne, Royal Wizard Dragovar requests your presence on a matter of some importance." The fellow intoned. "Please follow me."

I was exceedingly glad that we didn't use titles amongst ourselves. The footman led us into the royal apartments where the royal family lived, and up to the door of the parlour where we met the king and queen yesterday.

"You are expected, towermaster," said one of the guards outside the chamber door, "Please go in."

I knocked and entered to be confronted by Dragovar, their majesties and next to them the young girl I saw performing magic yesterday. I bowed to the king and queen, Tasayne curtsied and Chessina made her personal gesture that was more or less between the two. The royal couple and the girl seemed somewhat stunned. The girl, who bore a resemblance to their majesties, looked rather pleased as well.

"Towermaster Castamir," said Dragovar, "may I present Her Royal Highness Princess Vellera, seventh child of Their Majesties'.

Seventh child? By the gods the king must be virile. I knew that there were at least two other daughters and three sons, although the eldest son died some time ago. The queen had kept her figure remarkably well.

 Dragovar went on. "She is the young lady who inadvertently caused us so much discomfort yesterday with her uncontrolled magic. She is to become a wizard; their majesties and Princess Vellera have agreed that she is to become your apprentice."

"Your Royal Highness, I am glad to accept you as my apprentice." I said, giving the child a friendly smile. "I hope that you will have as much fun as I had during my apprenticeship, although there will be a lot of hard work too. However, that is the last time I will use your title, except for appearances at court. You are now Apprentice Vellera and must defer to Senior Apprentice Chessina who will also be teaching you."

Vellera looked slightly mutinous at this, while the king and queen looked taken aback.

"Your Majesties," I said, turning to the king and queen, "Chessina and I will care for Vellera as though she were our own daughter."

"Thank you towermaster," King Beremar began, "The fact that Vellera has magical ability has come as rather a shock to the queen and me."

The queen turned to the king and said, "Husband, are you sure we are making the right decision?"

"Forgive the interruption, your majesties," I said, "But magical ability is a gift of the goddess Arcana, and it is not wise to cast the gifts of the gods back at them. Without training Vellera's magic will become uncontrollable and may end up harming herself and others." I wasn't about to tell them what I really thought. I suspected that Vellera was an integral part of Arcana's schemes and might well be the first towermistress, as all my predecessors had been men.

"I concur with the towermaster, majesties," Dragovar added, "I believe it is the right decision."

The king nodded, "I thank you for that, Dragovar."

Chessina smiled at Vellera and said, "All the grown up people are talking about you as though you aren't here, I'm afraid Vellera. Do you really want to be a wizard?"

Vellera looked thoughtful for a moment, then replied, "Yes, I do. A beautiful lady came to me in my dream and told me that what I had been doing was magic and that I was a wizard. And she told me to work hard and become the best wizard I could."

"There you have it, master," said Chessina, "From the mouth of our newest apprentice."

"I know this is all very sudden and your world has now turned upside-down Vellera," I said turning to her, "Chessina and I have something important to do, so we shan't take you back to the tower until we have finished, to give you time to get used to the idea. I hope that makes all this a little less bewildering."

I was rewarded with a shy smile from Vellera.

I kept my own kindly smile in place, copied as best I could from the expression so often on the face of my old master Harmon. In the back of my mind however was the thought that another piece had been placed on the board. And I didn't know what the game even was, let alone what the rules were.

 

oOo

 

As our conjured invisible servants completed packing Chessina and I were joined in our suite by Dragovar and Tasayne, the former carrying a large, carefully wrapped bundle.

"This is a, somewhat belated, wedding present for you both, from my brother, Duke Brandell," Dragovar began, as we looked in some puzzlement at the bundle. "I happened to mention to him Chessina, that you are fond of playing instruments. This lute used to belong to his former wife Renilla. My brother would like it to belong to someone who will play it because they enjoy doing so, not because it is expected of them and because the instrument is expensive."

"How thoughtful of your brother, Dragovar," Chessina said, moved by the gift while I nodded agreement. "Please give him our grateful thanks. We will think of him while I play it."

"How is my former sister-in-law and her son, my loathsome nephew, Pennover?" Dragovar enquired.

"They both seem to have adjusted to being hinny asses," I replied, "They give milk for the village children and pull carts so they are doing more good now than they ever did as humans. Priestess Silavelle has let it be known that they are under her direct protection so no-one would dare mistreat them."

"After all the ills they are responsible for they deserve their fate." Dragovar said. "May Arcana be with you when dealing with the elves."

"I sincerely hope so." Chessina replied.

We made our farewells while Chessina and I sat on the rug, then it lifted into the sky as we set forth on our mission.