the elvish question 4

 

The Elvish Question

Chapter 4

 

Our excellent breakfast had been a good start to the day, and Chessina and I were thoroughly occupied as we flew to collect Priestess Silavara. Oh, please, take your mind out of the gutter, Chessina was continuing my lessons in spoken Abyssal. If you ever get the chance to learn Abyssal, don't take it, unless like me you really need to. Some, alright most, of the concepts discussed by demons are unspeakably vile. No, I'm not going to give any examples. If you really want some, take the most vile thing you can think of and make it at least three times worse.

"I've been thinking, Chessina." I remarked, wanting a break from my Abyssal lesson. If the concepts weren't bad enough, the multiplicity of tenses the language required for all the insult modes made my head spin.

"Did it hurt, Castamir?" Chessina replied with mock sympathy.

"Yes, but I'm unspeakably brave," I said, and continued before Chessina could interrupt, "I remember that on the trip to the elvish city the journey didn't take as long as it ought to have done. I wonder if it has anything to do with the ley-lines that Harmon mentioned occasionally."

"What are ley lines?" Asked Chessina.

"They are lines of magical force that lie across the landscape. Sometimes they follow the lines of roads and sometimes they don't. I will look in Harmon's notes when we get home to the tower. I also need to check the maps of the dwarven kingdom. I really don't want to get lost in the mountains."

"I've heard tales that dwarven women have beards, is this true?"

"Some do and some don't, Chessina. Thinking back, it was the noble-women who had beards, but no moustaches, only male dwarves have moustaches. Dwarven noble houses have a tendency to produce few children and Harmon wondered if there was a connection."

"Are dwarven women attractive?" Chessina asked, rather too carelessly I thought.

"I wouldn't say they were necessarily unattractive even though they are all a trifle . . . chunky," I replied, "some had rather sweet faces. In answer to the question you didn't ask, no I've never had a dwarven mistress. Dwarven women prefer men who are much stronger than I, and who have beards. I much prefer being clean shaven. So I won't run into any old flames." I was rewarded with a blinding smile from Chessina.

The flight home wasn't as tedious as it usually was as I was fully occupied with my lessons. Chessina made them interesting enough that I didn't feel like jumping off the rug. As well as vocabulary and grammar, I was learning the fine art of insulting demons. With all the vile things I could now call them, it was great fun.

As we came close to the tower I said to Chessina, "It's a nuisance having to go and ask Priestess Silavara to come with us, as I really want to look in Harmon's notebooks and check on the maps of the dwarven kingdom."

"Silly," replied Chessina, "why don't I go and ask her. She quite likes me now, and Arcana told me I won't upset Silavara's familiar."

"Will you be alright going through the forest, love?" I asked in some concern.

"Of course I will Castamir." Chessina replied forcefully. "Even if I leave the path to the Priestess' cottage, which I have no intention of doing, and a forest creature attacks me I have various spells as well as my own claws to deal with it. Please don't try to coddle me."

"You're right of course, it's just that I love you so much. I worry about you." I said contritely.

"Before we do anything, we need to go and see Elizelle, our foster-daughter." Said Chessina.

"Yes, and I can send a letter to Dragovar letting him know how his great-niece fares." I replied.

We spent more time than I had intended holding Elizelle and talking to her carers, mother and daughter Aria and Vella and Elizelle's wet-nurse Nilla. We had both come to love the infant in the few weeks she had been with us.

 

oOo

 

I was deeply absorbed researching in the library so I jumped slightly when Chessina kissed me on the cheek.

"I'm sorry, love. I must have been so absorbed that I didn't notice the tower's chime announcing the approach of a magic user." I said contritely. "Did everything go well with the priestess?"

"Yes, Castamir," Chessina replied, "Silavara agreed to come with us. Apparently Silavara's goddess Silvana has a few bones to pick with the Elven Court, and the priestess would be grateful to have the towermaster there backing her up when she does so. Silavara will be here first thing in the morning, she wants to give her familiar owl the chance to go hunting tonight. Ulula is a sweetie, she doesn't mind me at all now, Arcana was right. Did your researches lead anywhere?"

"Yes, your suggestion about looking in Harmon's journals was invaluable love, it's all there," I said Chessina turning pink at my praise, "The difficulty with ley-lines is finding them in the first place and then synchronising with them. My connection to the tower will help with that. Once synchronised with the ley-line the spell to travel along them is a simple one. Harmon also recorded the spell he used to find the elven city when we went last time. Unfortunately, that spell is extremely complex and I won't be able to learn it in time. I'm very glad Silavara agreed to accompany us."

"Have you eaten, Castamir?" There was an edge to Chessina's question.

"Uh . . . no I haven't."  I replied guiltily.

"I didn't think so," Chessina said, shaking her head at me, "I've instructed the kitchen servants to prepare dinner."

I closed Harmon's journal and followed Chessina out of the library. Come to think of it, my stomach was grumbling rather.

 

oOo

 

Next morning Chessina was supervising the servants packing for our journey while I was packing what magical supplies and nick-knacks that I thought advisable. The chime for an approaching user of magic sounded and I went downstairs to check if it was the priestess and let her in. On finding it was her I opened the door and ushered her into to the vestibule.

"Good morning Silavara, you are well I hope?" I enquired. As I spoke Chessina came down the stairs followed by the servants with the luggage. I knew it wouldn't be too much. Chessina wasn’t the sort of woman who packed for a journey as though she was an army preparing for a campaign.

"I am quite well, thank you Castamir." Silavara looked composed as she almost always did, with her owl perched on her shoulder and firmly dozing. "Chessina, I trust that the incident yesterday didn't discommode you unduly?"

"Incident?" I said, somewhat sharply, turning to Chessina as I did so.

"It wasn't worth mentioning, love." Chessina replied, glaring at priestess Silavara.

"Still, you might tell the tale to while away the hours of the journey." I said, in a rather flat tone of voice. As I spoke I had unrolled and enlarged the rug. We got on it, I lifted it and we flew out of the tower, the door shutting behind us.

"I am sorry to be the cause of domestic disharmony, Castamir," said Silavara, sounding more contrite than I had ever heard her before, "Chessina had a minor disagreement with one of the forest creatures. She suffered no harm and wouldn't even have had that problem if she had remained on the path."

"Perhaps you ladies will regale me with the complete story when I have got us on our proper course." I  said, somewhat acerbically. I searched for the ley-line for some minutes, it was harder than I thought. Once I had found it, synchronising wasn't that much more difficult than doing so with the tower. I was sure I would improve with practice. That done I muttered the spell that Harmon had written in his journal; the speed increase was immediate and profound. Without jar or jerk the rug was now going faster, much faster. According to Harmon's writing, the speed had increased approximately seven times. In addition there was somehow some . . . distance between us and the rest of the world. Distance is not the correct word, but I don't know another. A footnote in the journal suggested that we might be 'out-of-phase' with the universe, but that was a matter for another time. While doing all this, I had caught snatches of whispered conversation between Chessina and Silavara. Chessina was explaining to the priestess what I was doing.

I turned to my two passengers and said, "And now ladies, we will discuss this . . . incident. Would you care to begin at the beginning?"

"If you insist," sighed Chessina, "I was on the path to Silavara's cottage when I heard a baby crying off to the right in the forest. At the same time I felt a magical emanation, I knew it was some kind of charm magic. You know I'm good with charms."

"Yes you are." I conceded.

"I thought this needed to be investigated, so I went into the forest. I was however on my guard." Chessina said forcefully. "As I got closer to the sound, I saw a creature up in the tree. It was similar to a small bear in build but with a face that was more like an ape. It cried like a distressed baby, and I know babies can't climb trees so I rocked it."

"Rocked it?" Priestess Silavara sounded puzzled.

"It was something I developed after Castamir explained about inertia," Chessina continued, "I cast featherlight on a rock, use a movement spell on it to get it moving in the direction of my target, cancel the featherlight and then crunch. The creature fell out of the tree, dead. I checked it was, went back to the path and carried on to Silavara's cottage. It's as I told you Castamir, hardly worth mentioning."

"I overreacted, my apologies, Chessina," I said, "I worry about you due to the fact I love you." I was rewarded by a blinding smile.

"What was that creature, Silavara?" I asked, "I've not heard of it before."

"They are called mimics," replied Silavara, "I know, original name. They mimic the cries of the young of the creatures they hunt. They have innate magic that detects the distress call of the prey creature's young and mimic it. Then drop from a tree or other high place to attack their prey. They are quite rare, and even rarer now."

"Does that distress you?" I enquired.

"No. Personally speaking I think them rather horrible creatures." Silavara replied. "In the web of life however, they merely use their abilities to take prey, as other creatures use their abilities to defend themselves. This ability works quite well with unintelligent creatures but those with some intellect might notice that this is wrong season for their young to be around, or think that partway up a tree is not a place their young might be. Such as Chessina. I don't myself think that this method of ambushing prey is a successful one. The increasing rarity of mimics seems to bear this out."

"What is the web of life?" Asked Chessina.

"All living things are connected," Silavara stated. She had gone into lecture mode, I guiltily recognised it as I often spoke similarly. "Not just the fact that sunlight makes plants grow, plant eaters eat the plants and meat eaters eat them. The oak tree for example; dozens of creatures live on and around  it. Many others live off the creatures that do. If there was a plague and all oak trees died, dozens of other creatures would die off too. The web can stand some disruption, but not too much. I try to keep humans from breaking too many strands in the areas I protect. In any case their fields and farms allow other plants and creatures to flourish. The elves however, despite their claims to harmony with the forest, are breaking too many strands. I am accompanying you to the Elven Court to persuade them to stop."

"If they don't?" I posed the question.

"Then my goddess will bring forth her power." Said Silavara with finality.

Conversation paused for a while after that until Silavara spoke again. "Castamir, your name, it isn't local is it. Where does it come from?"

"It comes from a very ancient, and almost forgotten language, Silavara," I replied. "Wizards tend to change their names on becoming apprentices so that their original names can't be used against them."

"Wizards are cautious, you've told me this many times, Castamir." Said Chessina.

"Chessina, my love, wizards are downright paranoid, and rightly so." I said.

"Do the names Harmon and Dragovar come from this language?" enquired Silavara.

"Yes they do. I was fortunate, Harmon let me choose my own name. Some apprentices get saddled with names they really don't like." I replied.

"Like Pondichook." Said Chessina, giggling.

"Or Ildefons, or Frigemar. Frigemar, of course!" I exclaimed.

"The Royal Librarian?" Queried Chessina.

"That explains why he so dislikes mages." I said, "I've never seen him cast even simple spells. If he was apprenticed but was no good at magic, or lost it somehow, that would make anyone bitter. He has my deepest sympathy."

Inwardly I shuddered. Apart from losing Chessina, losing my magic was the worst thing I could imagine. Chessina broke into my melancholic reverie.

"Castamir, if wizards change their name for protection what about Vellera? Everyone at court is familiar with her name, won't that put her at risk?"

"You're right Chessina, it will. I hadn't considered that." I said. "You know that I really don't like to  interfere with people's thoughts, but Dragovar and I will have to 'encourage' people to only remember Vellera's new name."

"And this is why I am somewhat . . . wary of wizards, Castamir," Silavara said dryly, "I am however glad to see that you find wielding such power distasteful. I hope Dragovar is as conscientious."

"He is." I replied confidently.

"Instead of using magic to alter minds, why don't you just pretend the princess has had an accident and cannot be brought back from the Place of Waiting?" Silavara then enquired. "She won't be much at Court and people will forget the princess and only see the Towermaster's other apprentice."

"That's brilliant, Silavara, thank you." I replied fervently. I really do hate to tamper with people's minds.

"What gave you the idea, Silavara?" Chessina asked.

"Many creatures pretend to be dead to fool predators into leaving them alone." Said Silavara. "Animals have been messing with each other's minds far longer than people have."

 

 

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.

 

 

the elvish question 2

 yes,  it has grammar/punctuation issues, don't worry, I'll sort them out for him before it goes to edit

The Elvish Question

Chapter 2

 

"Demons have politics?" I asked Chessina.

"Castamir my love, they have nothing else." Chessina replied, "no two demons are precisely equal in the hierarchy. All of them are constantly striving to raise themselves up and do their enemies down. They promise loyalty to those above them and try to gain followers and trade favours to increase their power and that of their patron. Cheating, bribery, sabotage, treachery, double dealing, character assassination and actual assassination are all expected parts of demonic society. Although assassinations are somewhat rare."

"Why is that?" Tasayne enquired.

"Because dear Tasayne, demons are far more afraid of death than mortals." Chessina replied. "There is no afterlife for demons, if they are killed on their home plane, so they are wary of killing another demon, in case its followers or superiors have the killer murdered in its turn."

"That's horrible!" Exclaimed Tasayne.

"Yes it is." Agreed Chessina. "By the way, all demons are inveterate and instinctive liars. The only time a demon will tell the truth is when that would benefit the demon more than a lie. Be very careful when dealing with demons, all of you. They are adept at making lies sound like truth, except for those malodorous runts that wizards call least demons. They're too stupid to lie well, but they still lie.   

"Did you find out anything else about the amulet, dear one?" asked Tasayne of Dragovar changing the subject. I suspected Tasayne found the conversation uncomfortable. Wizards do tend to learn a lot of things that are most uncomfortable to know. Tasayne then blushed prettily, having used an endearment for Dragovar in public. Dragovar smiled lovingly at her.

"Yes, I did," he said, " the amulet projects a ray of radiant energy that can do a great deal of tissue damage that would usually be fatal. If you hadn't had the lesser sphere of protection, you would have been dead Castamir. I'm surprised that you weren't badly injured without the tower's backup, as you left your staff with me for safekeeping."

"The magic of the amulet may work differently in the Halls of Waiting, Dragovar," I said, not wishing to confide the true secret of the tower to anyone other than Chessina. Even to my best friend. "Sorry to interrupt, what else have you learned."

 "The ray is really a very narrow cone and anything that gets in the way would suffer the effects. Dragovar continued, "However, the spell is powered by the blue gem in the centre. It's not a sapphire, in fact I'm not quite sure what it is, but from my examination the gem's crystal structure degrades with every use of the ray. I think the amulet can only produce it three more times before the crystal disintegrates. I assume you will be taking it with you, Castamir."

"When we go to deal with Fishface, yes," I replied, "but as it has so few charges, not before."

"This is all very interesting, and thank you Dragovar for all your efforts, but this doesn't help us to deal with the elves," remarked Chessina.

"We'll need to persuade priestess Oakheart to go with us," I said.

"Why would you need a druidic nature priestess," asked Dragovar.

"Precisely because she is a druidic nature priestess," I replied, "we'll need her nature magics and affinity to the forest to even find the elven capital."

"I thought you said you'd been to the elven capital once, with Harmon, your late master," said Chessina.

"I have," I explained, "but this was shortly after Harmon took me as his apprentice, everything was strange to me. Harmon explained that he had to use special magics to find the capital, as it was concealed by elven spells and the forest itself. The subject never came up again and I don't know what magic to use."

"Harmon never visited the elves again?" queried Dragovar.

"No, he was never invited," I responded, "elves don't react well to intruders. They tend to fill them full of arrows first, and not bother about questioning the corpse later."

"Why was Harmon invited by the elves?" asked Tasayne.

"I don't know," I said, "he was closeted with the elven king, high mage and several advisors. I was called 'human scum', and while I wasn't quite spat on, it was close, and it was made very clear that if I was found somewhere I shouldn't be, I would be dead."

"You don't like elves, do you?" asked Dragovar ironically.

"No, and nor did Harmon," I replied, "we much prefer Dwarves. Neither dwarves nor elves will ever forget a slight, and rarely will they forgive. A dwarf however, will tell you to your face why they hate you. They may then try to smash your head in with an axe, but they're not sly. The first intimation you may have that you've annoyed an elf, is when you're hit by a poison arrow, in the back."

"Did Harmon ever write about that trip in one of his journals?" Chessina asked.

"I don't know, but it's well worth looking," I replied.

"By the way Dragovar," Chessina remarked, "have you done anything to your major-domo Ammand? He practically grovelled in front of us, which is a big change from his former attitude of treating us like something unpleasant he'd just stood in."

"I have rebuked him for discourtesy to you as my guests." Dragovar explained, "I also pointed out that turning someone into an ass, yes the story of what you did to my nephew Lord Pennover has got about, was relatively mild compared to what you could do."

"You know I couldn't really do anything else with Pennover apart from killing him," I said, "he was wilful and ungovernable at the best of times, but when he took ten year old Norva hostage, I had no choice."

"I know that," said Dragovar, "just as I had little choice when I did the same to his mother, former Duchess Renilla. Given her asinine, pardon the pun, foray into demonology, killing her would have strengthened her demonic patron. What did you call him again?"

"Pointyteeth." replied Chessina succinctly.

"Well, as you and Castamir banished him back to the Abyss, we won't have to worry about his direct involvement for the next one hundred years and a day." said Dragovar, with I thought just the hint of smugness.

"Well, approximately that long," replied Chessina, "with demons you can't be completely certain of anything. Time doesn't run in the demon worlds in the same way it does on middle worlds. Demons leave off trying to return for what they perceive to be 100 years, and then add the day to prevent being destroyed by trying to out-fox the universe. That never goes well."

"Have there been any more problems with that coterie of foolish women that Renilla bamboozled into helping her with her demon summoning?" I asked.

"Fortunately no." said Dragovar, "Without Renilla to lead them none of them has the initiative to get into serious trouble. They are contenting themselves with adultery, back-biting and character assassination."

"Normal court life in other words." I remarked.

"Cynic." Tasayne commented.

"Yes." I replied.

 

oOo

 

"Thank you for attending on us so promptly Towermaster Castamir and Apprentice Chessina." Said King Beremar.

"Royal Wizard Dragovar emphasised the need for haste your Majesty." I replied. Actually Dragovar hadn't, he'd just summoned Chessina and me peremptorily but I wasn't about to embarrass my best friend in front of the king and queen. This audience was taking place in one of the private chambers in the palace. It was a comfortable wood panelled parlour if rather more well appointed than most I had been in. There were curtains on the windows and they and all the upholstery were of fine fabrics. The furniture was all wonderful examples of the joiners art and the carving was exquisite if restrained. Queen Silavelle as hostess was pouring the tea, which I thought rather unusual.

"You intimated in your message that you had a possible solution to the problem of the elves Dragovar," said the king, "but you gave no details and asked for a meeting without servants."

"Yes majesty," Dragovar said, "I wanted no one to overhear as the plan is . . . somewhat unorthodox. I would like to prevent eavesdropping if you will permit?" As the king nodded Dragovar gestured and the curtains pulled shut. Dragovar made a different gesture and the doors and windows were outlined with a violet glow.

"We will not be overheard majesties," Dragovar announced, "as the plan . . ."

"Chimneys." interrupted Chessina.

"I beg your pardon?" Dragovar almost snapped.

"Chimneys," said Chessina, "you haven't sealed the chimneys against eavesdropping."

"Do you really think . . . " Dragovar began.

"Can you afford to take the chance?" Chessina asked.

"No." Said Dragovar. "You have the annoying habit of being right." At his gesture the fireplace and chimney were also outlined in the violet glow.

"As I was about to say before I was so . . . cogently interrupted," continued Dragovar, "the plan being apprentice Chessina's she should be the one to explain it."

"The plan is a simple one your majesties, blackmail." Said Chessina. "Castamir knows at least one grubby little secret of the elves that they really don't want others to know. Threaten to reveal it and they should capitulate."

"That is excellent news." Said the king, brightening.

"Unfortunately we have just learned that there is demonic involvement with the elves." added Chessina.

"By the gods, no," cried Queen Silavelle, "will we never be free of those monstrous things?"

"Alas, while there are greedy and foolish wizards, we will never be free of such." Said Dragovar sententiously.

"Dragovar if you try to keep an eye on those suspected of demonology," Chessina said firmly, "we can reduce such occurrences. Particularly if Castamir and I discourage those demons who do get involved . . . permanently. Majesties, most demons have far more pressing concerns than getting involved with mortals. It's only a few who take the time and effort to involve mortals in their schemes. Despite what demonologists think it is they who are involved in demonic schemes, not the other way around."

"You know a great deal about demons." King Beremar remarked.

"She is our acknowledged expert, majesty." I replied.

"You seem so young, apprentice Chessina." said Queen Silavelle.

"I am much older than I look, majesties." Chessina said. "I was born Shareen, the aunt of Sir Tasseder. Through the perfidy of my own brother I was enslaved in the Abyss for many years before I was rescued."

As their majesties expressed their sympathies, I reflected how proud I was of Chessina, she had told the truth about her antecedents without letting on that she had actually been a demon. If she had, I doubt the king and queen would be anywhere near as sympathetic as they were. Dragovar and Tasayne were good friends to us both.

"May we both know what is the secret that you're going to use to blackmail the elves?" King Beremar asked Chessina.

"I think, your majesties, that it would be better if you didn't know," I said before Chessina could say anything, "what you don't know, you cannot reveal, even accidentally."

"There aren't any elves at court, surely," said the queen, "if there were any magically disguised Dragovar would have detected them, wouldn't you." Queen Silavelle turned to look at Dragovar as she spoke.

"Probably yes, your majesty," Dragovar replied, "but that doesn't mean that they might not have spies at court."

"They might want to at that," I remarked, "but what would make anyone want to spy for the elves. Most Elves despise humans, I know that for a fact."

"Apart from money?" Dragovar asked ironically, "You know that elves despise humans, but most people don't. To them elves are mysterious, enigmatic and, reputedly, beautiful. There are enough people who would be overjoyed that such wonderful beings would deign to ask them for a small favour, and pay them too. Some people seem to enjoy being walked on."

"Yes, that's right." Said Chessina, brightly. "Although I've never understood the attraction myself . . . ah . . . I'd probably better not say anymore." She blushed on seeing the expressions on the faces of the king and queen.

"Chessina's experiences in the Abyss are not something she talks about readily your majesties." I explained gravely. As their majesties nodded in sympathy, I recalled several conversations where Chessina explained that her time working as a pleasure demon was not really unpleasant. She was a cheerfully uninhibited person, and by this time I knew precisely how uninhibited she could be.

 

oOo

 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you both in front of the king and queen." said Chessina rather contritely.

"You didn't, Chessina," said Dragovar, "they were sympathetic to you. Please don't go overboard about possibly embarrassing their majesties. Some people can take it to extremes. See that elderly gentleman over there?" Dragovar indicated a man in conversation with a group of courtiers. Old Demitrel was away from court, for a long time."

"Why was that?" I asked.

"When making his formal bow to Queen Silavelle, he let loose a tremendous fart, poor man," explained Dragovar, "he was so embarrassed he went into self imposed exile, for . . . it must be five years now. That was silly, the queen wasn't annoyed."

I caught Chessina looking intently at several courtiers, she didn't like any of them, I recalled.

"No, Chessina," I said flatly, "you may not."

"Oww, why not master?" she asked.

"Partly because it would be bad manners to reduce the royal court to a shadow of itself," I explained, "and partly because at least Dragovar knows where these people are, and can keep an eye on them. Who knows what mischief they might get up to out of his sight for years. I'm not going to say anything about making ordinary farts glow, or even fluoresce if you must."

Chessina grinned at me.

I grinned back.

A movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. A young girl wearing court costume seemed to have torn her dress on the corner of an elaborately carved desk. She looked at it in irritation, and pointed her finger at the tear. Her finger started to glow and as the child moved her finger the rip mended. Then my head seemed to explode in agony.

The pain rapidly receded, seeming to drain away through my staff and I became aware of Chessina leaning heavily against me, her face drawn with pain. Dragovar had his hands to his head.

"Are you both alright?" I asked anxiously.

"The pain is fading, love," said Chessina, faintly, "Don't worry."

"Thank you for your concern, Castamir, I will be fine in a moment." Replied Dragovar. "It seems we have a young wizard at court. What we just felt was the backlash from untrained magic used nearby."

Our actions had not gone unnoticed and everyone turned to look at us, including the young girl who had mended her dress. She reminded me of someone. At that moment one of Arcana little missives dumped its contents into my brain, whether I wanted it or not.

"Yes there is a young wizard here, Dragovar." I said. "You, and several other people will be having a rather important dream tonight. I suggest you heed it, Arcana has something to tell you all."

"Who is the young mage?" Dragovar enquired earnestly.

"That would spoil the surprise." I replied.

"You can be insufferable at times, Castamir." Snapped Dragovar.

"Yes, but you love me anyway."