Unwanted Elves
Chapter 17
“Poisoned?” the king yammered in shock.
“My apprentice and I have also been poisoned, your Majesty.” I stated in my most matter-of-fact tone. “It added a certain... zest to that dish.”
“Yes master, the poison imparted an... interesting piquancy.” Chessina added in a similar tone.
From his demeanour and the colour he went I thought the king might have an attack of apoplexy. If elves can have apoplexy which I didn’t know.
“This is intolerable!” The king shouted, leaping to his feet.
He was obviously getting fond of that phrase.
“No, no, your Majesty, merely irritating.” I observed. “If you will permit me Majesty,” I continued casting some analytica spells. I had been watching Prydythaur closely, and I saw that he was watching us as closely with a faintly malicious grin on his face. That grin had eroded through every mouthful we took.
“I should be the one investigating this, I am the Royal Wizard!” Tancyfrwys yelled, having jumped to her feet also.
“You are also one of the prime suspects, royal wizard,” Silavara stated, “You have made no secret of your despite for the towermaster.”
“This is...” Tancyfrwys began.
“Intollerable?” I interrupted.
“Perhaps father, if Tancyfrwys and the Towermaster both undertook investigations and compared notes it would be wise.” Princess Ariannaith said in a calm tone of voice that I felt might have some magical undertones. Interesting, if so.
“That seems fair,” said the king, visibly calming and sitting down, “Royal Wizard, Towermaster, please continue.”
We both cast our spells and were joined by Chessina and Silavara.
“I discovered that all the tableware has been poisoned,” ignoring the spluttering king, I continued, “in addition this poison is one of extreme specificity. I believe it to be poisonous only to humans, but to be quickly fatal to them.”
“I believe that I detected the faint taste of abyssal fig juice, don’t you concur, master?” Chessina stated.
“Absolutely, my apprentice.” I had no idea that there was such a thing, let alone its taste, but I was going to back Chessina.
“How can you know about such things?” Yammered Prydythaur abruptly. He seemed very rattled and unsure of himself.
“Why, bard Prydythaur, my master is making sure that I have an excellent education in all things magical. And as Towermaster he has access to an extensive research collection.” Chessina said, sounding incredulous. “By the way, how do you know about such things, they are not generally known outside the magical community.”
Prydythaur looked about suddenly seeming hunted as many eyes were on him, not least the princess and the chamberlain.
At last he managed to stutter, “I... I... picked up many things on my travels.”
Turning from him, I asked Tancyfrwys, “Have you determined anything?”
“Yes,” she managed at last.
“Now, I can swear on my magic, that I have detected the same poison on all of the tableware and that it is a poison of extreme specificity.” As I finished speaking there was the glow of my oath.
“What can you swear on your magic to?” I asked Tancyfrwys.
“I swear on my magic that I have found the same information as the Towermaster.” Tancyfrwys almost spat, with the same accompanying glow.
“With your Majesties permission,” I said, “we regretfully wish to withdraw from this... occasion and retire to our rooms. Might we be provided food on less... malevolent tableware?”
“Very well,” the king said, “Make it so.”
oOo
Food was brought to our room on somewhat plainer platters than those in the banquet hall, but these, as we determined, were not poisoned. Neither was the food, or the drink, or the cutlery. Of course we checked.
Shortly thereafter there was a knock on the door.
“Enter.” I called. To our surprise, chamberlain Blaithamlwg entered.
“Chamberlain? I said, “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“The banquet broke up shortly after you left. Priestess Silavara’s platter turning to charcoal and your consumption of deadly poison with enjoyment upset people.” He said, “To be honest, it terrified many people, particularly Prydythaur.” Blaithamlwg added in satisfaction. “The king has retired to his chamber in a huff, the queen has retired to hers with a headache, Tancyfrwys and Prydythaur went off somewhere together and I have no idea where the princess has gone. The glorified hangers on have scuttled away somewhere, doubtless twittering about how dreadful it all is and that something needs to be done.”
“Why chancellor, you are quite as cynical as I,” I remarked.
“You mentioned earlier, that you suspected Prydythaur of being something without specifying what. Could you explain please.” The chamberlain asked.
“We suspect Prydythaur of being a half demon.” Chessina stated, bluntly. “In fact we suspect him of being the same demon who was the subject of the Second Favour.”
“That’s impossible, surely,” the chamberlain said. “That was long ago.”
“Demons are effectively immortal, chamberlain, while the powers and abilities of half or part demons are variable in the extreme.” Chessina continued.
“How is it that you know so much about demons, young lady?” Blaithamlwg asked, suspiciously.
“I am older than I look, chamberlain Blaithamlwg and I was held captive in the abyss for many years.” Chessina replied, keeping to the story we had agreed upon, rather than the truth that Chessina had been a demon until we regained her soul.
“Can you tell me why you think Prydythaur is a demon or part-demon?” the chamberlain enquired.
“My proof is in five parts that indicate Prydythaur’s demonic nature,” Chessina began, she had slipped into lecture mode, which I recognise so well, being very prone to it myself. “First, animals, particularly familiars are greatly disturbed by the presence of the demonic. Silavara’s familiar really doesn’t like him. I don’t like him either, but that’s by the way. Second, I have an amulet of demon detection and there was one in the throne room when we first arrived. That demon was still with us in the chamber we went to thereafter. It is not picking out the precise individual, but we think that this is due to Prydythaur being at least part demon. Third, the ability to charm others so easily. Demons don’t need to cast this as a spell, and indeed most demons can’t cast spells. This is an innate ability for those demons that possess it. Only the weakest are unable to do so. Forth, Prydythaur started noticeably at the mention that three copies of the blackmail document had been translated into Abyssal, the demonic language. Fifth, Prydythaur knew about Abyssal figs, knowledge not generally available. Incidentally he covered this rather well, as indeed he might just have ‘picked it up in his travels’.
Individually each factor is not conclusive; collectively it is almost certain that Prydythaur is a demon.”
The chamberlain was silent for a while as he digested this.
“We believe that Prydythaur is a demon and we know he has been fomenting war.” I said. What we still don’t know is why.”
“Whatever his reasons he is getting desperate. This blatant attempt at poisoning all of us is in contrast to his manipulation of the royal court up to now.” Said Chessina, “Most demons do not react well to being thwarted or having their plans go awry. They tend to lash out in blind fury. I suggest we retire early, taking precautions and be ready to counter Prydythaur. I have a feeling about this.”
“Arcana?” I posed the question.
“N....no, just a hunch, I think.” Chessina replied.
Arcana is a woman too, I had strong suspicions about Chessina’s hunch.
oOo
We talked for a little after chamberlain Blaithamlwg had left.
“When Arcana gave me this new body,” Chessina said to us, “she told me that although I do need some sleep I don’t need as much as normal humans. So tonight, I’m going to stay awake.”
“I will petition Silvana that I may be alert this night.” Silavara chimed in.
“I can also use spells so that we can all be awake.” I said.
“No love,” replied Chessina, “I think, notwithstanding the threat of Prydythaur, you should still sleep tonight. Call it a hunch.” She added as I looked doubtfully at her.
oOo
“Castamir, Castamir!” The voice was insistent. I sat up in bed and saw,
“Arcana?”
“Yes. Castamir, Tancyfrwys is in great danger, you must help her. She is here.” This time I didn’t feel the knowledge I didn’t know I had unfold, I felt the knowledge being implanted with delicacy and sureness of touch. It was an incredibly intimate moment and I felt deep and abiding love for Arcana.
“No time, Castamir. Get the others, help Tancyfrwys. Wake up!
I was awake, instantly, with no drowsiness whatsoever. I saw that Silavara was seated in one of the bedroom’s chairs, while Chessina was in the other. Ulula was perched where she could watch the door and the windows.
“Castamir...” Chessina began.
“Tancyfrwys is in great danger, Arcana told me. Follow me.”
I grabbed my staff, and led the way which I knew with total certainty, Chessina hot on my heels with Silavara following behind, Ulula clinging to her shoulder.
It being night the tree-city was lit by magical lanterns which gave a dreamlike quality to the scene. I had no time to spare to look upon the sight as I was driven by a great sense of urgency. With the aid of my staff I gently but firmly pushed any of the few elves active at this hour out of our path. From my limited experience with the opposite sex before meeting Chessina, I knew it was most impolite to enter a lady’s private chamber uninvited. Driven by a sense of urgency and indeed impending doom I brushed the door aside with the help of my staff. I had learned my lesson from previously blowing doors off their hinges when opening them forcefully. I imparted force on the side away from the hinges rather than on the whole door. The wood around the catch splintered and the door flung open.
There were two figures in the room struggling on a couch, Prydythaur was on top of, presumably Tancyfrwys, smothering her with a large cushion. The female underneath was struggling feebly. Using the staff, I pulled Prydythaur away from his victim and threw him against further wall of the chamber. The staff’s crystal glowed pink as though I needed to get Prydythaur well away from Tancyfrwys, I didn’t want him mashed to a bloody pulp as with the power of the Tower behind me I was perfectly capable of doing. Alive, spells could be cast on him to aid with questioning him, dead I could only use converse with the deceased while he was in the Place of Waiting. And the dead can lie. Prydythaur sprang up from where he had slid down the wall after I’d thrown him there. Most humans would have been stunned, for a moment at least. More proof of his non human nature. There was a sudden blurring in the air and there were four Prydythaurs! They all drew short swords which glowed with a green fell light. We had been renewing the illusion dispelling ointment but these... constructs didn’t seem to be illusory. Silavara had gone to tend to Tancyfrwys but at my warning shout turned to face this new threat.
In order to balance the glowing blades, I drew Demonslicer from its rune carved sheath with my right hand, keeping my staff in my left hand. None of the... entities seemed happy at this but still advanced on us. My opponent made a tentative stab at me, Silavara’s seemed to be circling her, while Chessina’s raised his sword for an overhand strike. Dragovar’s gifts of protective rings against blades would help us. I hoped Silavara could cope. I wasn’t sure what the forth was doing, but I caught it moving fast out of the corner of my eye.
My Prydythaur made another jab with his glowing sword and I tried to deflect it with the staff. I didn’t think it likely that the sword would damage it. Chessina used her signature attack that she called ‘rocking’ people. Silavara called on the very wood of the tree to entwine her attacker. My staff passed right through the sword, the object that Chessina had projected passed through her attacker and impacted the wall, and the woody tendrils commanded by Silavara caused the facsimile to dissolve. Illusions! We’d all been fooled. The forth and real Prydythaur had fled while we were occupied, his duplicates collapsing into nothing.
I rushed for the door, closely followed by Chessina. Silavara, true to her healer’s instincts went back to tend to Tancyfrwys. A male elf dressed as a servant was sprawled on the floor, but as he showed no revulsion at Demonslicer only justified wariness at someone carrying a naked blade, I didn’t think that he was Prydythaur under another illusion.
“Prydythaur, the royal bard, where did he go?” I demanded peremptorily.
“I haven’t seen the royal bard.” He replied.
“Has anyone passed you?” I persisted.
“Yes, a nobleman, I didn’t recognise him, he pushed me out of the way and I fell.” He explained.
Prydythaur had used yet more illusion magic to conceal him. He had escaped!
oOo
Chessina and I returned to Tancyfrwys’ rooms to find her sitting up on the couch being examined by Silavara.
“How are you?” I asked Tancyfrwys.
“Why do you care?” She snapped the reply at me.
“Several reasons,” I replied. “First, Arcana, goddess of magic thinks that your life is important and I do so hate to disappoint her. Second, I know we don’t like each other, but I have no desire to see you murdered, and lastly I doubt if you are feeling particularly charitable towards Prydythaur and the enemy of my enemy is someone I can work with.”
“I thought he loved me,” Tancyfrwys muttered, I thought she was probably suffering from shock as she was starting to shake. “He said the betrothal was only political and the kingdom needed strong young leadership. We were going to rule together, everything he said seemed so sensible, I thought, I...”
Here Tancyfrwys burst into tears. I’ve never been good with weeping women, so I was grateful to be gently but firmly evicted by Chessina. I stood looking out over the softly lit city and marvelled at its beauty. Won at the cost of torturing trees, I reminded myself. Stop wool gathering Castamir, things need to be done. I looked around for a servant or indeed anybody. Presumably the disturbance was such that the nobility in the vicinity had decided that discretion was the only part of valour and had either firmly barred their doors and stayed quiet or moved in the general direction of away. Leaning over the balcony, I did see someone who looked like a servant. They were within range of a whisper spell.
“Excuse me.” The elf woman looked around in puzzlement, then down and finally up and then caught sight of me.
“Could you please find the royal chamberlain, and say that the Towermaster requests that he come as a matter of urgency to the apartments of the royal wizard. Tell him that it involves the matter we discussed earlier.” As the woman hesitated I added, “Please.” At this she hurried off.
Shortly thereafter Blaithamlwg came bustling up.
“What has happened?” He asked in some agitation.
“Prydythaur tried to kill Tancyfrwys but we arrived in time. Unfortunately he escaped, using illusion magic to change his appearance, so it’s pointless to try chasing him.”
The chamberlain used several elvish words that I didn’t know, but I doubted any of them were complimentary to Prydythaur. I tucked them away in my memory for future reference.
