Below the Peak (Sola)(49)
The king looked at her with disdain, her words hitting its mark. How dare she reminds me of my bastard lineage! He seethed with indignation and humiliation despite many in the room not knowing he was descendent of Einarr’s bastard brother Garth. His great, great grandfather Garth had stolen the throne from the rightful heir Einarr after much conflict and scheming. This was a secret that had been guarded with much care and sword throughout the years, for it paused a threat to his rule. Lorenz hated the girl knew. Who else might have told her other than his cousin Thani?
Lorenz banged his fist on the table and bellowed. “Watch it! your wretched tongue will serve you no good in my presence.”
Nara gritted her teeth.
“Perhaps this is not the time to introduce ourselves?” a deep, cultured voice rang clear in the room.
Part Two
Chapter Seventeen
Earlier that evening
Another dull routine day was passing the vigilant guards—thanks gods- rounding along the ramparts of Vessener’s walls, so they presumed. Since receiving word about Latrell’s attack, the guards have been sleepless on their toes, ready to defend the city contingent upon a war broke and Abasi’s force gain foot to the core of the kingdom. Despite Vessener’s walls being praised for being impenetrable, it did little to ease the anxiousness they were feeling. The guards were distressed with the immense task that had befallen them. Unbeknownst to them, from a hill distant from the city, under shades of lush green bloomed branches of trees, superior beings who could easily kill them were watching them.
Calemir gazed up, watching, and estimating how many human guards were keeping watch from the walls. He observed the way they were heavily armed and, pensively surveilling from above. Even a great distance from them, He could feel anxiety and fear rolling from them. It glided and coiled around his body.
All the bravado. Calemir mused darkly.
He and his comrades had arrived in Vessener in the late afternoon. Being the one in charge, he’d suggested to scout the surroundings before they charged in. They inspected every trap and weak points. His sharp elvish ears caught the sound of crushing dry leaves under light strides.
“They have got eyes around the walls. It would be hard to get in unnoticed” Finn said, coming to stand beside him.
“All gates are secured too” Leena pointed coming behind them. The other three elves Finn had picked to accompany them, emerged from the opposite directions joining them after scoping their given portions. Leena had gone through the gates when she’d come searching for the Vár. During her quest, the spiked iron gates had been open for anyone to enter the city and leave. There were no guards who’d really bothered to check the faces who’d gone in and left. But with recent news, the gate was brimmed with guards. It irked the female elf warrior that they would have to find another way to enter. She pressed her lips into a tight line, being here again put her on edge. She wasn’t fond of humans. Being in their presence brought memories which were best forgotten. She couldn’t wait to leave the place soon as possible. She stared into the distant, mind lost into the old briefly. It’s been decades already, time passed, the world has changed, she should let go and forgive herself.
It wasn’t my fault I butchered them mercilessly. Leena recited in her mind. Cocking her head, she found Finn looking at her. She pushed her shoulders back and focused on the present. “I see no other choice. Going over the walls is our best chance. We are also running out of time.”
“Leena, Rithor and Melindre the walls are yours. Galeni keeps an eye on the horses.” Calemir instructed. He gazed at the darkening sky with its moon already out. They needed to get going. “Finn, we ride to the gates” he continued, mounting on his steed which had been busily munching grass.
“They’ll see you from a mile away”, Leena said, confused as to why he’d aim for the gate.
“That’s the point. A good distraction as you fetch the water-” again Calemir had to depend on Leena since she was the only one among them who knew where exactly where the well was located. He trusted her capabilities in retrieving what they sought.
“We meet back here, no need to search for each other in the city” he added.
Finn grinned and mounted his steed too. But before they separated Calemir added, a caution in his tone, “Play nice Leena.”
“Yes, Leena. Play nice” Finn cajoled and trotted alongside Calemir for the gates not seeing the look Leena sent him. Leena gestured the other two elves to follow her.
It was time do what had brought them to Vessener.
“What if they shoot us out of fear without acknowledging us first?” Finn asked casually as they neared the massive gates. “I’d hate to die so stupidly.” He was not a tad bit afraid. It was a habit of his to spring a conversation whenever he was about to enter a battlefield or any situation close to it.
“You cannot die, your death would leave trails of broken hearts.” Calemir decided to indulge his friend. He did it rarely. There was little in his life that brought pure pleasure to him and made him laugh without care, it’s why he grabbed the opportunity which could tip his lips to a crooked smile.
“True, it would be a great tragic” Finn cockily grinned.
Soon the horses came to a halt a few feet from the barred iron gates. Pushing humor aside, the two elves, transformed to enigmatic ruthless warriors they were.