Janiver got right to it,
“As of now, we have the names and origins of five of whom we're calling the Pretenders. The first, and the presumed leader, is Carca Phaririel, the former White Queen, a very high level Warlock with a specialty in necromancy, currently the acting God of Death. She is making her home in Yis-Gláz for the time being and the Spotted Gnolls are devoted to her. Carca is also the former wife of the Black King, originally a Dark Elf, then a Barrow Elf. We're assuming she is answering to the Black King.
Next, we have Lasca Grimriel, a Gray Elf turned Barrow Elf. Also a very powerful Warlock. Her father was a cobbler in Nez Ambril before he passed. Very bright girl and Carca's prize student. She blamed the Church for not stopping her father's death, but it was simply his time. Through Carca, she was able to get ultimate revenge against the former God of Death when he was usurped. Currently in Yis-Gláz.
Then we have Shindur Ormeriel, current advisor to Milost. Another high level Warlock recruited by Carca and originally a Gray Elf from Nez Ambril. Her family were minor nobles who were convicted in a small conspiracy to overthrow May's father, King Hembrik, First of his Name. They were banished, and Shindur grew up in Wikehold. She became a Barrow Elf after her parents were killed in a robbery. Their bodies were put to the pyre and their bones interred somewhere in our Necropolis illegally. Currently living in Moss City. Most recently, she has been helping others get included amber from us. That's about to stop.
The next three we got from Tendil this morning, as you know. We'll start first with the female, Ahmerni Terariel, a Sun Elf from the Eastern Plains, also a very high level Warlock and likely handpicked by Carca. Her family was minor nobility, lost in a Hobgoblin raid. She blamed Death for taking them too soon and so forth and so on. Same as the others.
The second name we have is the most important because it alters our strategy. We were assuming this would be about spellcasters. We were wrong. Shardish Corminyón is a Fire Elf from the Land of Fire to the East of Swalesia. The Fire Elves call it Imbliel but few outsiders go there to know that. Here's where it gets interesting. Shardish is a very high level Paladin like May and Pelisir. He was committed to élois but broke his oath for some reason. It's thought he renewed his oath, this time to the Black King. And that has led him to us.
The third, Jinfar, we're still not sure of other than that he's a Sand Elf. Perhaps you can find out more about him, Brevid?
If you have any questions, I'll answer what I can, but you just heard the current extent of my knowledge.”
"Have any of them Ascended yet?” I asked her.
"Not yet, Tendil. It would appear they're on a schedule similar to ours.”
"So far, all of the Pretenders are Elves. Will that streak continue, and why is it so?”
"Without trying to sound insulting, My Prince, Elves simply know more and have more experience due to our longevity. Personally, I would assume any more Pretenders will also be Elves. I feel that's why élois is involved, because of the Black King's history and continued corruption of Elves.”
"I have my moments as a Human, Janiver."
“Of that I'm certain, Tendil." She answered. "Now, my great hope is that your mission tonight is a success and we find the rest of our names if there are any.”
Early that evening, we all met back at the sanctum. Milost, Brevid, and I were dressed in our Bedouin gear with traveler's packs.
The plan was for Janiver to teleport us there and we had scrolls of the spell so as to conserve as much of Brevid's Mana as we could.
Milost and I were both armored and armed beneath our robes.
Brevid said, “This isn't my first time doing this. We'll come in behind a large rock to the East of Yis-Gláz, on the far side of the oasis as it leads onto the Trade Road and the Waste. We're only dressed like this long enough to make sure there is no one around. Then we leave our equipment behind the rock, read our scrolls, and fly to the Palace. Please, both of you, follow my lead, and don't talk too much. Even as birds, there's no sense in drawing undue attention. Any questions?
Then say your goodbyes quickly and we'll be on our way.”
I held May tightly, smelling the lavender and lemon oil in her hair.
“We'll be back before sunrise, Love. Don't fret."
“I'm trying not to, Darling. I just remember her state of mind when I left her last. She's unpredictable right now."
“If anything should go wrong, we each have scrolls. We can get out quickly."
“Yes, and the best of plans may go awry. Isn't that the saying? Just be careful, My Prince. I need you."
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Having you to come back to is all the reason I need."
We kissed and held each other until Brevid cleared her throat loudly, signifying time wasting.
“You two can be in love all over again when we get back," Brevid declared. “Janiver, send us on our way."
The next thing I knew, I was behind a huge red rock looking toward the oasis, the city of Yis-Gláz, and the sun setting behind it on the open horizon, a waning ball of fire, yielding to the all consuming darkness.
Brevid and Milost were already preparing to read their scrolls. Milost had stowed his weapons and I was stuck in place, captivated by the scenery. Even in this part of the Waste, close to a large city, the sky was a sea of sparkling stars.
“Tendil, stay with us. You're not here as a tourist!" Brevid scolded.
I quickly stashed my things and pulled my scroll from my satchel.
“I'm sorry. Let's go," I said.
We all read our scrolls at the same time, and there we were, three little sparrows sitting atop piles of clothes and armor.
Brevid tweeted, “Follow me to the top of this rock."
Once we were all there “It's important to remember what we are now. We're prey for desert cats, hawks, snakes. Always watch your tail."
The rock was large, perhaps twenty feet tall. From that vantage point, you could see over the palm trees in the low-lying oasis, the minarets and Palace domes towering over the fortified wall of Yis-Gláz. The last oranges and purples of the sunset fading behind it. The Palace was our destination.
“Let's go," said Brevid as she took off.
No longer tentative, I fell into formation behind her quickly, Milost off to our left. What a magnificent feeling. We'd flap a bit, glide a bit. The wind, blowing out of the West as it usually did, was in our faces, but slowed us little as our sleek forms cut through the air.
We were fast. I'd never been this fast, even on horseback. The feeling was freedom. Amazing.
Brevid cut and dodged through the small forest of palms and slipped up and over the high City wall, no one giving us a second thought. Watching the city pass by below, I almost missed Brevid wheeling about and coming to roost atop a guard tower outside the Palace.
The place was a hive of activity. The intelligence we had was that Carca was still holding audiences for anyone wishing to bring a petition before her. Even into the night, they were lined up nearly to the avenue outside.
Brevid began chirping, “You'll follow me over to where those four small domes surround the large main dome. The four small domes are attached by verandas that circle the structure. You'll see when we get there, but there are areas under the roofs of the verandas where the desert sparrows build their nests. I'll give you further instructions from there.”
Once again, she took off and we followed. There were plenty of nests under the veranda. Many were inhabited, many were abandoned. We took over one of the abandoned ones.
The veranda we were in was also where the main entrance to the massive center structure, the large dome, admitted the night's petitioners, a long, ornate hallway leading directly to the throne room. Carca's Chambers were behind that.
Four large doors were on either side of the hallway, rooms, and guest rooms. This was where May and I spent the night.
Brevid began chirping again, “The only major problem with this plan is that desert sparrows bed down as night comes on. If we were real, we'd be asleep right now. We have to hope nobody notices the irregularity. Fortunately, there are many abandoned nests under that dome in the rotunda. Again, just follow me.
Just then, a young Spotted Gnoll cub wandered away from her mother and stood right below us.
“Why are you talking so much little bird?"
We all froze. To her, it had seemed like Brevid had just been chirping and tweeting away at us like a school teacher or something. Certainly unusual.
The cub’s mother came out of the line to get her.
“What are you looking at, Yixan?"
"Mommy, that little bird was scolding those two I think. She wouldn't shush for nothing.”
The mother eyed us. "Ah, well that's a female, Darling. The other two are yucky boys. She's just keeping them in line.
And, speaking of line, hurry, let's go back so we don't lose our place.”
But there were those still in line who reckoned that their place was already forfeit. In the ensuing argument, guards eventually had to intervene and we had our perfect chance to slip in.
Everyone in line was looking back at the main doors to see what the commotion was. We flew over their heads down the hallway and pulled up to shoot to the supports of the dome where a comfy looking nest awaited us.
“Well, that was easy," Milost chirped.
Brevid was taking in everything below us,
“I think it may be as simple as if you see an Elf, they're probably a Pretender. If she's picking from outside the species, it will simply take more work on our part."
"I see one right now, and I know him,” Milost tweeted. "Behind the throne there. The Wood Elf. He's a Ranger from Ilníst. His name … his name … Harmin, Harmin Perkyón. He certainly meets the criteria. Very high level. Banished from the Taliswood for killing a romantic competitor in an illegal duel. He's certainly one of them now.”
Harmin certainly did not fit the Wood Elf stereotype. He had the red hair, close cropped, the wide set green eyes, the freckles, but his face had an angry, cruel cast to it. He wore scale mail, a bow and quiver on his back, and a shortsword on each hip.
“What was his specialty as a Ranger, Milost?"
“Hunter."
I let my gaze wander for several minutes, and there! There was another of them! The only other Elf in sight at least. This was a subspecies of which I had heard, but only in books. It was a male, light blue-green skin, greenish-black hair, small gill slits on his neck. Webbing on his hands and feet. Yes, his feet were bare. This was a legendary Sea Elf, and he was dressed in the black, loose fitting clothes and robe of a Monk.
I pointed him out to the others. He seemed to favor the shadows.
“Oh, my," Brevid exclaimed, “one doesn't see that everyday. That will call for some research when we get back. I wonder if I could get in his head without alerting him."
“Let's not try that please," I admonished her, “I would like to get back to my beloved with all of my feathers intact. You can't do anything in that form anyway.”
"Ah, yes, I forgot. Let's get out of here and get back to Nez Ambril before it gets t…”
She froze, looking down. What I saw chilled me to the bone. Suddenly, Carca was staring up right at us.
"Guards! Shut the doors!” she bellowed.
Brevid and Milost were off in a flash trying to beat the guards. I was a little slow realizing what was going on. I could see the doors closing quickly, two Gnolls on each one. Milost and Brevid shot through a six inch gap to safety. I wasn't going to make it, was I?
I was flapping with every fiber of my being. The gap was narrowing as if time had slowed down. Three inches. Two inches. I turned my body vertically to thread the gap and closed my eyes.
Then there was a sickening thud. Then nothing.