Decker's anger quickly changed to sorrow as he realized how close to a fight he and his long-time friend had just come. Friend or not, Decker had a rule of honor he followed, if blades were drawn in actual battle, only one walks away. Thankfully though, those blades were not drawn today, as Tobias just turned to head inside.
“Are you not even going to hear me out, Tobias?” Decker shouted at his back.
“Do what you want, you're going to anyway,” Tobias said with a wave of his hand not even looking back as he opened the door to the main house.
“Your friend seems particularly troubled today,” Kelenvor said, turning to Decker.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into him, he has always been angry but never like this. I’ve never known him to not listen to reason, even if he disagreed.”
“He does seem to be spiraling into the depths of his grief,” Kelenvor said, frowning.
“Perhaps he will snap out of it though once he sees our efforts to save the villagers. Now, we should find your druid. I will require her aid if our plan is going to see any real success.”
Tobias stood at the window, watching them walk away as he poured a drink from the whiskey bottle on the table. From behind him, he heard the voice of his commander and friend.
“They don’t understand the burdens of leadership Tobias. They don’t know the pressures it places one under. I understand, though, and don’t worry, I will be here to help you make the right choices.”
“Be here? You’re not here at all, Max. You’re in that grave out there. I placed you there myself, remember?”
“You know me, Tobias, you know I would not leave my family behind like that. Not when they need me the most. Not when I can do more to help them. Even the grave could not stop my love for you and the others.”
Tobias was about to say something else when the door opened, and Max’s image faded away, like dust being scattered by a stiff breeze.
Kellet came through the door with a curious look on his face,
“Who were you talking to, Tobias?”
“Myself, apparently,” He answered, taking another long swallow of the whiskey.
“I saw Decker and Kelenvor, they have a pretty solid plan to help the villagers, but they said you refused to listen.”
“Of course, they did.” He replied coldly.
“Fine, go see they get whatever they need. If they can truly help, then all the better.” With a wave of his hand that held the bottle of whiskey, he dismissed Kellet without a further word.
Being his long-time friend and one of the few in the order who understood him. Kellet just shook his head and left the house to meet up with Decker and Kelenvor.
By the time he found them, they were already talking to Sagina.
“Kellet, glad you’re here,” Sagina said as he approached.
“Tobias sends his apologies,” Both Decker and Sagina knew it was a lie but nodded their acceptance anyway.
“So, how are we going to help the villagers?” Kellet asked, eager to change from the subject of Tobias.
“We are going to bring them all here. If we bring them to Briarthorn, we can prevent any more from becoming ill from the poison. Me and Kelenvor can’t reverse what’s been done, but we may be able to cast a powerful enough ward to prevent the poison from contaminating a small area, such as the village or our water supply.”
“That’s excellent Sagina, only where are we going to house that many people? There have to be hundreds of them scattered around Agnar.” Kellet replied sullenly
“Decker has agreed to convert the training yard into a shantytown. If we put up some tents and convert the stable stalls into a place to put the sick, it should work. It won’t be ideal conditions, but it will beat dying.” Sagina replied, looking at everyone for agreement.
“Ok, so I will have someone gather the villagers up and escort them here. You all prepare to receive them and get the stables ready for anyone needing a healer.
And Kelenvor, on behalf of the Thorn Callers’ I’m delighted to have you with us.”
“Thank you, Kellet, but I find the honor is mine, as I am bound by oath to aid those in need. Your order is offering me the chance to do that on a scale I’ve not seen before. May the makers light see our efforts rewarded.” The others all nodded their consent and began preparing for their tasks.
Back inside the main house Tobias Longbranch stared into the bottom of his glass,
“Let them scurry like rats from the fire Tobias,” The voice of Maximillian whispered in his ear.
“We both know the only way to save this forest is by offering the life of that half-blood as payment.”
“And payment must be made,” Tobias replied, taking another long gulp from his glass.
20
As the companions followed the merchant road towards the Moon elf city of Dusk Haven, Roan decided to take the opportunity to learn more about the mysterious dark elf girl they rescued.
After all, they were sharing his saddle now, and it would help pass the time as they rode.
“So, it’s unusual to see a dark elf merchant traveling without a contingent of guards,” Rone said, trying to ease into his questions.
“Not so unusual for an exiled merchant, though,” she replied with a shrug.
“And I wasn’t a merchant yet, only an apprentice.”
“You’re an exile?” Roan said, looking back at her over his shoulder.
“I am,” she said, somewhat guardedly.
“I was exiled for overstepping my place in the family. They wanted me to be a priestess of Mephesto. I wanted something else.”
“Seems an odd thing to exile, someone, for,” Rone replied, listening intently.
“Not when your mother is Genevie Rolandis, high priestess of Luna’Dwell. Then it’s pretty much expected that her daughter would follow in her footsteps.”
“I’m sorry,” was all Rone knew to say.
“Don’t be, what about you? You’re an odd HoloFae, who are your parents?” Being called HoloFae stung Rone as he stiffened a little from her words.
“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?” She asked, seeing him tense up.
“I prefer half-elf or even half-blood to HoloFae, I don’t consider myself to be half of anything or hollow, I’m simply me.” He said, trying not to sound angry.
“Hmm, I never thought of it really, but that’s a great way to look at it.”
“I think so,” Rone said with a smile.
“As for my parents, I barely remember them. I haven’t seen them since I was a boy. I remember my mother told me once that she was a noble at one time. But she had been exiled for falling in love with my father, who was a slave.
She would never tell me her real name, just that she had a new name now and her old one was better forgotten. When they found out I was born a forest wielder, they handed me off to the Thorn Callers for training. I’ve been with them ever since.”
“Wait, you’re a Thorn Caller? I heard stories of them when I was young. They say you can talk to trees, is that true?” Her curiosity made Rone smile. He liked that she was interested, despite not really knowing anything about her.
“Something like that,” he said, still smiling.
“I dabble a bit in magic myself,” she said.
“I’m no mage, but maybe someday I might be.”
“I thought you wanted to be a merchant?” Rone asked curiously.
Katrina just shrugged her shoulders and smiled,
“I want to do lots of things, one of the few privileges of being an exile. No one is there to tell you what to do.”
“I guess so,” Rone replied casually.
“So, show me some forest magic half-elf,” she joked, poking him in the ribs.