Whilst Milost and Margrin took things in, I was focused singularly on locating the Monk. Until he was gone, I wouldn't be able to function properly. He consumed my thoughts and dreams.
As we sat there on our perch, I began to notice a rhythmic vibration in the stone of the second tower, percussive like a distant drum beat. There would be one thump, then two quick thumps, a large thud, followed by several in rapid succession. Then I was gradually able to discern the sounds that were accompanying the beats. It was coming from the beach below the cliffs.
I got a sinking feeling in my gut but couldn't help myself.
“I'll be right back." I told my companions, and took off for the water.
“Wait …” I heard them call, but this had to be done to give me some peace of mind.
The wind had abated somewhat as I quickly closed on the water’s edge. And the syncopated thumping grew more intense, louder and louder, and then … there he was — the Lasher as he called himself.
One hundred and fifty feet tall, thirty feet out into the cold ocean surf, bent at the waist and driving his fists through the ocean and into the sandy seabed. Two of those, then he'd rapidly backpedal out of the water, stomp the beach, do a flying roundhouse kick, and run back out into the crashing waves. Every so often, he'd thrust his open palms out before him and powerful jets of saltwater would shoot out across the wave crests. One of his abilities from the time before he was a god.
But then, he put his arms straight out to his sides and began to float through the air, fifty feet above the ocean surface. He began to spin. The speed of the revolutions increased to a point where he was but a blur in a matter of seconds. From where he had launched himself, a twisting, twirling water spout began to form, with the destructive energy of a tornado. He guided it with his mind and it lashed about itself as if it were the whip he carried.
I'm guessing that was a new ability but I was not terribly familiar with the artistry of Monks. Especially those of a level equal to Toris Lorquayón.
I had to fight the urge to take immediate action. This wasn't the time. He had all the help he needed a few hundred yards away. The three of us, Milost, Margrin, and myself would fare poorly if we survived at all.
So I turned my tail feathers to the tides and flew with the wind back to the second tower where my friends had apparently made a discovery of sorts.
“I found the Lasher. What word have the two of you?"
Milost answered, “That Lich is a she. Formerly of Moss City. One of Shindur's underlings. So they are recruiting. She's another powerful Warlock. Esmil Finelriel I believe is her name. Originally a High Elf out of Nez Clar?, she's made the change fairly recently. She's young, like Brevid. An easy mark for recruitment.”
"Have you seen any other new faces?”
"We have noticed one peculiarity. See that small chapel over by the barracks? There are three Dark Elves in there with Shardish and Harmin. They're likely new recruits as well. They appear to be Barbarians based on their armor, or lack thereof, and their great axes.”
"They seek to draw even with us and surpass us in number,” I surmised rather obviously, "We'll need to keep a keen eye on their progress.
Have we made any further discoveries?”
"Only that they grow no food here. There are no livestock, sources of leather or metal. In short, they're having to import all of that. And that means they have allies in Kruklig. We should find out who that is and at least disrupt their ability to supply themselves.”
"And what if it's your friends, Margrin? Playing us against ourselves?”
He considered a moment.
“Ultimately, they're opportunists. Given a chance to turn a profit, they'll take it, whether the hand on the purse strings be good or evil. What can I say? They no longer define me."
“No, Friend, I wasn't suggesting that. I simply meant that I hoped it wouldn't be a conflict for you. Certainly there are still emotional ties. I mean, they raised you from a child."
“If they have chosen evil over good? If they have chosen profit weighed against the destruction of everything we know? I have no ties to that. But let's be sure it's them before they're condemned."
“Fair enough."
Milost retorted “Well, we'd all be recognized on sight by them and by several others in Kruklig. Who do we get to go in?"
“They don't know Janiver or Veralia," I offered. “Nor do they know Vastila or Felistia."
“Nor May," said Margrin with a slightly accusatory tone.
“Nor May," I agreed. “You're absolutely right. Or Abbot Istip for that matter. What say you two that we get back to Nez Ambril before we wear out our welcome here?”
"That sounds excellent,” came a quick reply from Margrin.
Milost suggested "If we fly over the mountain there behind the castle, we'll be in the Waste. We can assume god form and teleport back from there. Or at least to a safe distance from the city so we aren't seen in that form yet. We are trying to keep the knowledge amongst ourselves for now at least? We are trying to keep our new natures secret, Tendil?”
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"Yes, Friend, for now.”
In scant minutes, we were back in the comfort of Nez Ambril in the sanctum. I had a seemingly always groggy Waldinor gather the rest of the Eleven. It was about to chime two bells.
Once together, I had Milost address the party.
“What we found out tonight … the Pretenders are actively recruiting. There is one female currently in Lich form who is known to me if you want her to be added to your paper. Esmil Finelriel is her name, from Moss City, a Warlock and a strong one.
This is speculation on our part, but there were three Dark Elf males, martial types, who seemed to be making preparations to join their number. We know nothing of them.
So we do know that they haven't refined their Ascension rituals. The Lich stage is still a step which must be taken.
We've surmised that they have allies in Kruklig helping them to stay supplied. Several of us are known in that city. Some of us aren't. We've discussed having the six who haven't been there to go to Kruklig and find out who these allies are. Those six are: Abbot Istip, Father Vastila, Mother Felistia, Veralia, Janiver, and May. It should be as easy as simply observing the comings and goings of visitors to the castle and finding out who their contacts are in the city.
Would any of you be averse to carrying out such a mission?”
Heads shook around the table. No dissent. Good.
Milost continued, “As do most things, this plan needs to come together and be acted out sooner rather than later. Time is on nobody's side in this war, but we must do what we can to tilt the odds in our favor.
This isn't merely a mission of discovery. Once identified, the Pretenders' allies must be eliminated and the act made to deflect attention away from us. Clear?"
Nods of agreement around the table.
“This will only be as dangerous as we allow it to be. If you err on the side of caution, the advantage is ours.
Brevid, you'll need to message your father and have him coordinate things on his end: rooms at the inn and so forth.
I would like you all to arrive in Kruklig in pairs tomorrow evening to attract as little attention as possible. Our teams will be May and Janiver, Vastila and Felistia, and Veralia and Istip. You can decide what your new identities and purposes will be. Just be sure to stick with these new identities the entire time you're there.
We don't know how often the castle is supplied, so it may take a few days to even see a delivery being made. We'll watch the castle by scrying and alert you when that happens.
That's all I have regarding this mission. We have complete faith in you.
Tendil, Margrin, do you have anything to add?”
I spoke, "Only that I watched the Monk tonight out on the water, drilling himself in god form. It was an impressive display. But I learned something about me as well — I'm not afraid of him and what he can do and I'm confident in me and what I can do.
That's a big step for me personally. I've always had a problem with doubting myself. It's how I was raised. But no longer. I may not win when the time for battle comes, but by élois, he'll know that he fought an equal.”
May stood. "I have a duel tomorrow evening if you've forgotten, My Love. I'll have to join Janiver when that's done.”
"No,” said Janiver, "I shall go with you as your second.”
"Well, I certainly will be there,” I put in, "I won't miss my wife's duel. Then I'll leave you two when it's done and return here.
You all remember to keep a low profile while you're in Kruklig. We'll be watching from here as best we can and we'll come in if needed.
For now, let's all get some rest and put our minds to more pleasant things. I'll meet the rest of you back here at seven bells tomorrow evening. Goodnight, My Friends.”
Lying next to May in bed, we listened to each other breathing, she probably thinking the same things I was. We were all staring down our fates. We were terrified of losing one another. Were we up to this challenge?
“May?"
“Yes, Darling?"
“Being that close to him this evening … it took everything in my power not to challenge him then and there. Do you think me a coward?”
She sat up.
"Of course not, Love. Do you think I would marry a coward? I have a gift, you see. I'm able to see through all that doubt you carry about yourself. I can see that strong, brave Tendil patiently waiting his turn. And I know he'll be ready when his turn comes.
Tendil, you've already proved yourself several times, do you think I don't remember? That I don't notice? I didn't marry you on a whim or a bet. I had some reason to think you were the man for me. The one to be my lifelong companion. My champion. I also like that you're not one to need his ego to be stroked constantly.”
"My eyes are closed but I heard your eyes rolling when you said that, Dearest.”
"Well, My Prince, you can be a little needy at times. But don't worry; it's an endearing kind of needy.”
"Are you excited about your little outing tomorrow evening?”
"I would like to consider it more than just a ‘little outing.’”
“I'm jesting, Love. It's actually more important than you may yet fully realize. Even if all we end up doing is being a minor inconvenience for them, that's still a small victory. And who knows what you'll turn up if the Syndicate is involved.
Oh, and another thing. If you see any Elves in town, use that ring of Janiver's, the elephant one, to get an image of them. At this point, everyone should be suspected unless we're certain they're on the right side of the good versus evil conflict. Right now, I'd say trust no one.”
"I'm not naive like that, Darling. I know the evil of which people are capable. But I also know that this world is full of good people. I refuse to live a life in which everyone is a suspect.”
“And right now I envy your ability to still be able to trust like that. The thing with ?rdelon and Pelisir has greatly shaken my trust. I trust you implicitly. Other than you, I can't say the same. I mean, by élois, May; both of them hid their true selves for hundreds of years, completely unsuspected. That level of evil is only imagined in the Human world.
And look what Milost has had right under his nose for over a century. The treachery and double dealing. You Elves have elevated it — ‘Elvelated?’ — to an art form."
“It always has been an art form, My Prince. It manifests itself in the art of diplomacy, salesmanship, negotiation. You're supposed to be well-schooled in those things, aren't you?"
“I am, Love, and that's one of the things that makes it so frustrating for me. I'm supposed to be able to see the signs of deceit, spot the lie, read the true intent. I've failed spectacularly.”
"Well, you weren't schooled in Elves. Now that you've been here for a while, wouldn't you say the experience has been different than it is to navigate the world of Humans?”
"Yes and no. Many things are different, to be sure. But the driving forces are still the same — greed, jealousy, lust, the desire for power. Those appear to be universal concepts. Even with the lower animals. Those things are laws of nature. You need to learn that and I need to do a better job of remembering it.
I'm going to sleep now, My Queen. I have a very big day tomorrow worrying about you the entire time you're away from me.”
"At least you've had a chance to see that I can take care of myself. I'm no fragile maid of the court.”
"I wouldn't have married you if you were. I like my women like I like my whiskey, strong and … well, strong.”
“If you ever say something so asinine to me again, I shall slap you, My Darling. Now, goodnight. You need your sleep and it's coming up on four bells."
"What of your duel with Shardish? I know you're confident in yourself. I just get such a horrible feeling from him. The evil in him just seems more powerful than it does in the others. Like he was born to it.”
"Then that gives me the advantage, Darling. At least according to my beliefs, the power of good over evil. My motives are pure.”
“You're right. Of course, you're right. Okay, that will make it easier to sleep. Goodnight, My Love, My Queen."