“I am glad you were willing to travel here to meet with me. I was worried that you would not come or that you and your kind had perished.” Her knowledge of his kind was very limited due to their complete break with the rest of the races in Tuwa. She had not kept up on what the various races of Tuwa over the centuries and this lack of knowledge was making some of her decisions difficult.
“We live on…in numbers you could not possibly fathom. I do not wish to spend more time here than necessary…what is it that you are proposing?” asked Tyriloriel impatiently. His voice made it clear that he was not going to share information freely with someone he had just met. It was apparent that they guarded their secrets closely and that she was probably not the only one to think that their race was extinct.
“As I alluded to earlier, I am in the middle of a campaign to unify the people of Tuwa under my control. The guardian council along with the help of the free peoples of this land has tried to stop my noble quest. Their forces have proven more difficult to dispatch than I had originally thought possible. That is where you come in…I was hoping to garner your support.”
“Why would the Elilasnar want to help those who have forgotten us? If you do not remember, we are not liked by any of those that live in middle Tuwa. They think we are worse than the dark lord or that we are in league with him.” Tyriloriel looked toward where Kana stood and she could feel the anger emanating from him. It was clear that he had no inclination to help her cause without adequate compensation.
“I take it that your people still have the curse?” Kana’s right hand burst into flames and the dark figure standing by the marble slab cringed in pain. He closed his eyes and tried to hide his face. She was trying to make a point with her guest.
“We do still have the curse the guardian placed on us.” A misty black hand wrapped around Kana’s arm which put out the flame instantly. She reeled slightly at the magical touch. There was an icy, evil feel to it. It was simple underworld magic; however, it was different when someone used it on him.
“I have found a way of removing that unjust vexation…all I ask in return is your help in vanquishing some common enemies.” She had recovered from the unwanted touch of the dark visitor. She liked that there was something she held over her dark visitor.
“What exactly did you have in mind?” asked the Lord of Meleirelnar. He could sense the unease he had caused the fallen guardian. He loved to make others uncomfortable…it always reminded him of how powerful he was.
“Let me start with the most important piece of information. Have you ever heard of the Orb of Nitesh?”
Reconciliation
Queen Kishi stood silently staring out the rear tent window as she waited for a bath to be drawn for her. She shivered slightly as she gazed out at the mysterious mountain of Lamont with nothing to cover her battered frame. She had been beaten so badly from her last encounter with General Yukio that her body was covered entirely in bruises and cuts. She knew that her troops needed her back at the front of their assault…they had little success without her competent leadership. She had sat by as thousands of her friends and loyal subjects had died violently. Never had the elves experienced such losses…her father had always managed to avoid war or serious conflict. She was beginning to feel the weight of her choices…the thousands of dead was calling on her for vengeance. Guilt was gripping at her heart as she turned to the now steaming tub.
As she slipped into the scolding hot water, she closed her eyes as her body screamed in pain. Her wounds were magical in nature and could not be easily mended. She had expended considerable energy in containing and healing the damaged parts of her body. Even though she was physically battered, she had not rejoined the war effort because of her mental instability and personal anguish. She had finally decided to bring about an end to this bloody campaign…she had realized that her drive for revenge may have been misplaced and the cost was entirely too high. She focused on this disturbing thought as she soaked in the warmth of her regenerative bath.
“You are right to question your motives Queen Kishi” said a deep, smooth voice from the shadows of the tent. A tall figure slowly emerged from the darkness to stand next to the tub. This person was wrapped in a white robe with a hood pulled forward that covered the face. There was power in the very air at the unexpected appearance of the mysterious visitor. There was also a fine mist that marked the spot the person had apparated to. The mist now started to encircle the tent like some sort of protective barrier.
“Who are you?” asked Kishi as she covered herself with all the soap suds she could quickly gather. She was taken completely by surprise and was, for the first time, afraid. How did this person sneak up on me? I know that I have been preoccupied, but I had not lowered my defenses. How did they get the drop on me?
“You need not fear me…I have come to give you some important information young one” said the mysterious stranger. He lowered his hood to reveal long white hair and goatee. His face was brown and his blue eyes were clear and sharp. They conveyed to a trembling Kishi wisdom and kindness. His look made the hot bath somehow cold as she lay there nervously.
“Who are you?” stammered the queen once again. She was mesmerized by the tall, foreboding visitor. She did not feel threatened, but she did not know exactly what to think of this person. She used some magic to better conceal her exposed self.
“Child…you know who I am…my name is known to you. I have come to discuss with you this unpleasant affair we are engaged in” replied the unidentified guest. He smiled warmly at the shaken queen as she cowered in her bath water. She could feel a trickle of warmth or comfort…she was unsure how to process this unexpected feeling. It was clear that this person was trying to comfort her and reassure her.
“Master, forgive me for my rudeness” said Kishi as her eyes widened. She quickly sat up and bowed her head as she realized that she was in the presence of the leader of the guardians. His persona was vibrant and pulsating with unimaginable power. She understood now why she had not detected him. As she looked up, her thoughts were directed to her feud with her father, her late sister, and General Yukio. For the first time her mind seemed to be clear and she understood her role. She seemed to understand more about herself as well. How is he doing that? Why would Lord Adair visit me? Did I not side with Kana instead of his council? Is he trying to trick me in some way?
“I have little time, so you will have to forgive me. I must first tell you that you have fallen victim to my old friend Kana. She has twisted everything since the elven council was broken. I am here to make things clear…display things as they really are.” He gestured toward the end of the tub where Kishi’s feet were. The suds began to swirl until they were replaced with a realistic representation of her sister’s marriage to Yukio. Many other images were shown in the hot water as the high elven queen watched in horror as the events leading up to her current predicament were displayed in a much different light. She felt unimaginable horror for what she had unwittingly been party to. Guilt threatened to consume her as she considered everything that she had just seen.
“I did not know that I was playing into Kana’s hands…I have done terrible things” groaned Kishi aloud. A tear formed on her left cheek and slowly slid down her face as she realized the truth. She began to shake as the horror of all that had been done either by her hand or those who she commanded hit home. Is he here to extract a price for my allegiance to Kana?