Borric sat back. I must think on that, for there are problems in the East, or so I have word. I will give thought to the matter this night. He stood. I thank you all for this counsel. Return to your quarters and avail yourselves of rest and refreshments. I will ask you to consider plans for dealing with the invaders, should they come, and we will meet again tomorrow.
As the Elf Queen rose, he offered her his arm, then escorted her through the doors that Tomas and Pug held open. The boys were the last to exit. Fannon took Tomas in tow, leading him to the soldiers commons, while Kulgan stood outside the hall with Tully and the two elven advisers.
The magician turned to his apprentice. Pug, Prince Calin expressed an interest in your small library of magic books. Would you please show them to him?
Pug said he would and led the Prince up the stairs to his door and opened it for him. Calin stepped through, and Pug followed. Fantus was asleep and woke with a start. He threw the elf a distrustful look.
Calin slowly crossed over to the drake and spoke a few soft words in a language that Pug didnt understand. Fantus lost his nervousness and stretched forth his neck to allow the Prince to scratch his head.
After a moment the drake looked expectantly to Pug. Pug said, Yes, dinner is over. The kitchen will be full of scraps. Fantus moved to the window with a wolfish grin and used his snout to push it open. With a snap of his wings he was out, gliding toward the kitchen.
Pug offered Calin a stool, but the Prince said, Thank you, but your chairs and stools are of little comfort to my kind. I will just sit on the floor, with your leave. You have a most unusual pet, Squire Pug. He gave Pug a small smile. Pug was a little uncomfortable hosting the Elf Prince in his poor room, but the elfs manner was such that the boy started to relax.
Fantus is less a pet than a permanent guest. He has a mind of his own. It is not unusual for him to disappear for weeks at a time, now and again, but mostly he stays here. He must eat outside the kitchen now that Meecham has gone.
Calin inquired who Meecham was. Pug explained, adding, Kulgan has sent him over the mountains to Bordon, with some of the Dukes guards, before the North Pass is snowed in. He didnt say why he was going, Highness.
Calin looked at one of the boys books. I prefer to be called Calin, Pug.
Pug nodded, pleased. Calin, what do you think the Duke has in mind?
The elf gave him an enigmatic smile. The Duke will reveal his own plans, I think. My guess is that Meecham is preparing the way should the Duke choose to journey east. You will most probably know on the morrow. He held up the book he had glanced at. Did you find this interesting?
Pug leaned over and read the title. Dorcass Treatise on the Animation of Objects? Yes, though it seemed a little unclear.
A fair judgment. Dorcas was an unclear man, or at least I found him so.
Pug started. But Dorcas died thirty years ago.
Calin smiled broadly, showing even white teeth. His pale eyes shone in the lantern light. Then you know little of elven lore?
Little, Pug agreed. You are the first elf I have ever spoken with, though I may have seen another elf once, when I was very little. Im not sure. Calin tossed aside the book. I know only what Martin Longbow has told me, that you can somehow speak with animals, and some spirits. That you live in Elvandar and the surrounding elven forests, and that you stay among your own kind mostly.
The elf laughed, a soft, melodic sound. Nearly all true. Knowing friend Longbow, I wager some of the tales were colorful, for while he is not a deceiving man, he has an elfs humor. Pugs expression showed he did not understand. We live a very long time by your standards. We learn to appreciate the humor in the world, often finding amusement in places where men find little. Or you can call it simply a different way of looking at life. Martin has learned this from us, I think.
Pug nodded. Mocking eyes.
Calin raised an eyebrow in question. Pug explained, Many people here find Martin difficult to be with. Different, somehow. I once heard a soldier say he had mocking eyes.
Calin sighed. Life has been difficult for Martin. He was left on his own at an early age. The Monks of Silban are good, kindly men, but ill equipped to raise a boy. Martin lived in the woods like a wild thing when he could flee his tutors. I found him one day, fighting with two of our children we are not very much different from men when very young. Over the years he has grown to be one of the few humans who is free to come to Elvandar at will. He is a valued friend. But I think he bears a special burden of loneliness, not being fully in the world of elves nor of men, but partially in both.
Pug saw Martin in a new light and resolved to attempt to know the Huntmaster better. Returning to the original topic, he said, Is what he said true?
Calin nodded. In some respects. We can speak to animals only as men do, in tones to make them easy, though we are better at it than most humans, for we read the moods of wild things more readily. Martin has some of this knack. We do not, however, speak with spirits. There are creatures we know whom humans consider spirits dryads, sprites, pixies but they are natural beings who live near our magic.
Pugs interest was piqued. Your magic?
Ours is a magic that is part of our being, strongest in Elvandar. It is a heritage ages old, allowing us to live at peace within our forests. There we work as others do, hunting, tending our gardens, celebrating our joys, teaching our young. Time passes slowly in Elvandar, for it is an ageless place. That is why I can remember speaking with Dorcas, for in spite of my youthful appearance, I am over a hundred years old.
A hundred . . . Pug shook his head. Poor Tomas, he was distressed to hear you were the Queens son. Now he will be desolate.
Calin inclined his head, a half-smile playing across his face. The lad who was with us in the council hall?
Pug nodded. Calin said, It is not the first time my Mother-Queen has had such an effect upon a human, though older men can mask the effect with more ease.
You dont mind? asked Pug, feeling protective toward his friend.
No, Pug, of course not. All in Elvandar love the Queen, and it is acknowledged her beauty is unsurpassed. I find it not surprising your friend is smitten. Since my Father-King passed, more than one bold noble of your race has come to press his suit for Aglarannas hand. Now her mourning is at an end, and she may take another should she wish. That it would be one of your race is unlikely, for while a few such marriages have been made, they are very rare, and tend to be sad things at the end for our kind. She will live many more human life spans, the gods willing.
Calin looked around the room, then added, It is likely our friend Tomas will outgrow his feelings for the great lady of the elves. Much as your Princess will change her feelings toward you, I would think.
Pug felt embarrassed. He had been curious as to what Carline and the Elf Prince had spoken about during dinner, but had been uncomfortable asking. I noticed you spoke with her at great length.
I had expected to meet a hero of seven feet in height, with lightning dancing around his shoulders. It seems you slew a score of trolls with a cast of your hand.
Pug blushed. It was only two, and mostly by accident.
Pug blushed. It was only two, and mostly by accident.
Calins eyebrows shot up. Even two is an accomplishment. I had thought the girl guilty of a flight of fancy. I would like to hear the story.
Pug told him what had happened. When he was done, Calin said, It is an unusual tale, Pug. I know little of human magic, but I do know enough to think that what you did was as strange as Kulgan said. Elf magic is far different from human, but we understand ours better than you understand your own. Never have I heard of such an occurrence, but I can share this with you. Occasionally, at times of great need, an inner call can be made, bringing forth powers that lay dormant, deep within.
Pug said, I have thought as much, though it would be nice to understand a little better what happened.
That may come in time.
Pug looked at his guest and sighed deeply. I wish I could understand Carline, as well.
Calin shrugged and smiled. Who can understand anothers mind? I think for some time to come you will be the object of her attention. Then, it may be, another will distract her, perhaps young Squire Roland. He seems held in thrall by her.
Pug snorted. Roland! That . . . bother.
Calin smiled appreciatively. Then you are fond of the Princess?
Pug looked upward, as if seeking guidance from some higher source. I do like her, he admitted with a heavy sigh. But I dont know if I care for her that special way. Sometimes I think I do especially when I see Roland fawning over her but other times I dont. She makes it very hard for me to think clearly, and I always seem to say the wrong things to her.
Unlike Squire Roland, prompted Calin.
Pug nodded. Hes court born and bred. He knows all the right things to say. Pug leaned back on his elbows and sighed wistfully. I guess Im just bothered by him out of envy as much as anything. He makes me feel like an ill-mannered clod with great lumps of stone for hands and tree stumps for feet.
Calin nodded understandingly. I dont count myself an expert in all the ways of your people, Pug, but Ive spent enough time with humans to know that you choose how you feel; Roland makes you feel clumsy only because you let him.
I would hazard a guess young Roland might feel much the same way when your positions are reversed. The faults we see in others never seem as dreadful as those we see in ourselves. Roland might envy your direct speech and honest manner.
In any event, what you or Roland do will have little effect on the Princess so long as shes determined to have her own way. She has romanticized you in much the same manner your friend has our Queen. Short of you becoming a hopeless boor, she will not be shaken from this attitude until she is ready. I think she has you in mind as her future consort.
Pug gaped for a moment, then said, Consort?
Calin smiled. The young are often overly concerned with matters to be settled in later years. I suspect her determination in the matter is as much a result of your reluctance as from a true appreciation of your worth. She, like many children, simply wants what she cant have. In a friendly tone he added, Time will decide the issue.
Pug leaned forward, a worried expression on his face. Oh, my, I have made a hash of things. Half the keep boys think themselves in love with the Princess. If they only knew how terrifying the real thing can be. He closed his eyes, squeezing them tightly shut a moment. My head aches. I thought she and Roland . . .
Calin said, He may be but a tool to provoke your interest. Sadly, that seems to have resulted in bad feelings between you.
Pug nodded slowly. I think so. Roland is a good enough sort on the whole; weve been friends for the most part. But since I was elevated in rank, hes been openly hostile. I try to ignore it, but it gets under my skin after a while. Maybe I should try to talk to him.
That would prove wise, I think. But dont be surprised if he is not receptive to your words. He is most certainly caught up in her spell.
Pug was getting a headache from the topic, and the mention of spells made him ask, Would you tell me more about elven magic?
Our magic is ancient. It is part of what we are and in what we create. Elven boots can make even a human silent when walking, and elven bows are better able to strike the mark, for that is the nature of our magic. It is vested in ourselves, our forests, our creations. It can sometimes be managed, subtly by those who fully understand it . . . Spellweavers, such as Tathar. But this is not easily done, for our magic resists manipulation. It is more like air than anything, always surrounding us, yet unseen. But like air, which can be felt when the wind blows, it has substance. Our forests are called enchanted by men, for so long have we dwelled there, our magic has created the mystery of Elvandar. All who dwell there are at peace. No one may enter Elvandar uninvited, save by mighty arts, and even the distant boundaries of the elven forests cause unease in those who enter with evil intent. It has not always been so; in ages past we shared our lot with others, the moredhel, those you call the Brotherhood of the Dark Path. Since the great break, when we drove them from our forests, Elvandar has been changing, becoming more our place, our home, our essence.
Pug said, Are the Brothers of the Dark Path truly cousin to the elves?
Calins eyes grew hooded. He paused for a moment, then said, We speak little of such things, for there is much we wish were not true. I can tell you this: there is a bond between the moredhel, whom you call the Brotherhood, and my people, though ancient and long strained. We wish it were not so, but they are true cousins to us. Once in a great while one comes back to us, what we call Returning. He looked as if the topic were making him very uncomfortable.
Pug said, Im sorry if
Calin waved away the apology. Curiosity is nothing to apologize for in a student, Pug. I just would rather not say more on this subject.
They spoke late into the night, of many things. Pug was fascinated by the Elf Prince and was flattered so many things he said seemed to be of interest to Calin.
At last Calin said, I should retire. Though I need little rest, I do need some. And I think you do as well.
Pug rose and said, Thank you for telling me so much. Then he smiled, half in embarrassment. And for talking to me about the Princess.
You needed to talk.
Pug led Calin to the long hall, where a servant showed him to his quarters. Pug returned to his room and lay down for sleep, rejoined by a damp Fantus, who snorted in indignation at having to fly through the rain. Fantus was soon asleep. Pug, however, lay staring at the flickering light from his fire pot that danced on the ceiling, unable to call up sleep. He tried to put the tales of strange warriors out of his mind, but images of brightly clad fighters stalking through the forests of the westlands made sleep impossible.
There was a somber mood throughout Castle Crydee the next morning. The servants gossip had spread the news about the Tsurani, though the details were lacking. Everyone went about his duties with one ear open for a tidbit of speculation on what the Duke was going to do. Everyone was agreed to one thing: Borric conDoin, Duke of Crydee, was not a man to sit idly by waiting. Something would be done, and soon.
Pug sat atop a bale of hay, watching Tomas practice with a sword, swinging at a pell post, hacking backhand, then forehand, over and over. His blows were halfhearted, and finally he threw his sword down with disgust. Im not accomplishing a thing. He walked over and sat next to Pug. I wonder what theyre talking about.