Dreadlords The Lies They Told

[Tarkas Verik]

Tarkas was not a man who did well on diplomatic approaches. Namely, appearance alone deterred any thought of pleasant conversation. After all, Tarkas' face was a cruel reminder of the brutality he was capable of, and suffered under.

And yet, ever the man of orders, command, and duty- he did what he was told.

And he was here, suffering. Perhaps moreso than the Dreadlords that were with him. The Dreadlords present were typical of their kind, cruel to the Anirian guard and unwavering in their ability to be annoying and prideful. He remembered the revolution, the cruelty of that civil war, as brief as it was.

And sometimes, in the moments such as these, he favorably remembered holding his own against Dreadlords. He was happy to remember dismembering some of them that crossed him personally.

While the Dreadlords dismounted, Tarkas took the Guardsmen to task, examining the manor they were staying at from not only an appreciative, but a security standpoint. Potential weak spots and entrances and exits were counted, contingencies developed and guard patterns to be planned. Accountability, things to carry inside.

Tarkas looked over at the Lieutenant with them, sharing a look of concern. Tarkas turned to the smaller woman she was speaking with, giving her an appreciative nod. He joined the two of them, mighty hands placed on the armored hips of his distinctive blue armor. His hair, despite the scar that parted it, was neatly combed and kept, short, as most soldiers of his caliber. His boots and armor were freshly polished, his sword immaculate. He looked all the part of a professional soldier, much less one of his status and experience.

And a good representation of the strength of a regular human, even in the face of immortal elves and magic-wielding Dreadlords. Magic and spells, tomes and weaving ancient rituals spoken in dark tongues at the command of Dreadlords and Wizards and Witches, came undone all the same by a sword through their stomach. A fact that Tarkas had demonstrated during the revolution first-hand, during a valiant defense of the King.

"They better not fuck this up for us."

Theadora Cloud l Ellory Ashford

 

[Liliana]

"No." Liliana said quietly.

There was a touch of sorrow to her voice, but another emotion prevailed over the word entirely. She stared with a listless sort of gaze out beyond the cliffs, not even peering at the elf who meandered towards the edge.

He finger crooked ever so slightly. "I'm feeling bitter, Elias."

Liliana stated plainly.

"Jaded." The Noble's expression drew to ha thin line, her strange golden eyes never leaving the distant beauty that loomed beyond them. The Elf took another step closer towards the edge, a hollow look in his eyes. "Tired of all the games they make us play."

She mused. "I want to play my own games."

Her finger crooked, and dirt crumbled from beneath the elf's feet as the tip of his boot scouted the edge of the cliff.

 

[Elias]

"Didn't take you for the playful sort," he said, approaching the elf and circling him. Elias stepped up close, enough to hear the sound of the elf's breathing. He waved a hand in front of the elf's face, then stepped back. Scoffed.

"Wow, you got 'im good," he mused as if having not heard a single word from Liliana.

Then, after a pause, "You know, holding onto those kinda thoughts is bad for you. Well, so says Grey. Misaligns your chakra, or something of the sort. But, I know what you mean."

And his arms shot out, slamming into the elf's back, shoving him off the ledge that Liliana forced him to toe along.

 

[Liliana]

The Elf tumbled over the cliff.

Fell end over end, not a single scream echoing out, not a word tumbling from his lips. Liliana's fingers unfurled, the weave that she had been maintaining over the elf's mind slipping away in an instant as he fell to his death below.

She could feel the connection sever entirely as he smashed upon the rocks below, his head body consumed by the raging rapids below.

A look of satisfaction sat on Liliana's face. The lids of her eyes closed, a slow breath drawing from her lungs. Slowly her golden gaze flickered open, drawing over towards Elias. A small, contented smile sat upon her lips. "I thought you would understand."

For more than a decade they had been pushed and tugged around. Lead by a leash. Beaten like dogs.

Denied their rightful place in this world.

Liliana wouldn't take it anymore. No matter who tried to tell her different.

 

[Elias]

Elias brushed his hands clean, as perhaps a woodsman or carpenter would do after a day of honest work. Then, hands hooked on his hips, he looked out over the falls and deeply sighed. Closed his eyes and absorbed the rays of the setting sun.

"Well, I am an understanding person after all."

The young man's head slumped, and his shoulders dropped. He rolled his neck, which cracked, and he stepped away from the ledge, turning to face Liliana.

"Let's go. Not much sunlight left. Would hate for you to catch me in one of my moods," he approached her and then continued past. "What do you reckon our families thought, sending us to that place? That, in return, they'd receive loyal tools? Weapons forged from high-quality materials?"

Elias shook his head.

"Times have changed. They haven't the slightest of the ill fate they've wrought for themselves."

 

[Liliana]

For a few moments Liliana didn't answer he companion, she simply stood, watching the edge of the falls.

A quiet serenity fell over her as she peered at the sight before her, golden eyes fixed upon the flowing water. Her fingers gently curled into fists, Elias' voice drowned out by the thousand thoughts running through her mind.

Seconds flickered by. A heartbeat passed, and then finally Liliana answered. "They thought we would be grateful."

She said, softly turning on her heel away from the sight.

"Happy to finally be released from the hell they put us in." A frown touched her lips as they began to walk. "Tools is exactly what we are in their eyes, Eli."

Her gaze flickered to him. "Pieces on a board to be moved and shifted."

Liliana knew that was what her father thought of her. Knew for a fact that was what had been intended for her time at the Academy. Jaxan, Ignatius, all of them had been meant to end up in the hands of House Lorel. Loyal subjects brought to her fathers door.

But now?

Elias was right. Things had changed. "You're right Elias."

She said quietly. "They don't even know how much things have changed."

 

[Elias]

Elias nodded along to Liliana's words. When she fell silent, he contemplatively hummed. Rarely did Liliana speak so openly to Elias about anything. Perhaps it was because of where they were. Out in the Elven wild, where there were no ears listening to them. Eyes watching them.

Even then, the two weren't exactly on friendly terms. Not that Elias bore hate for her. There had been an instance some years ago, a promise from him to her that he would turn her into ashes from the inside out if she ever wove in his mind again. Of course, Liliana had laughed it off in the unique way she was known for. But she never did it again.

"What's your point, Lorel?"

 

[Liliana]

"My point, Sirl." She bit, the word lashing from her tongue with enough ease that not a single ounce of venom touched it.

"Is that this world is no longer theirs." Slowly she glanced back towards the other noble. "Our fathers, our parents."

There was an easy smile on her face. "They sent us away, part and parcel. To do their bidding. Become what they needed to rise."

For a second she seemed to muse.

"Intending for us to sing their tune." Liliana smiled an easy smile. "But..."

She trailed off as they broke out from the forest, her eyes turning towards him. "We've learned of so many more chords haven't we?"

Liliana only smiled, looking at him. Remembering the last time the two of them had spoken more than a few terse words.

It was always rare that she poke to her peers. Rarer still that she carried on conversations. Most were beneath her, others had long since learned that her words were as that of the snake in the garden. Yet she remembered Elias.

She remembered that threat. the words he had whispered to her. Fear had quaked her then, though she would never admit it. But now? Elias might turn her to ash, but she would leave him a quivering, drooling mess of a boy. Unable to eat his own porridge without spilling it in his lap.

"I'm going to make sure my father knows that, Elias." Her words were strong, confident. "I have a name, and it echoes beyond Lorel."

"You!"​

A voice echoed out, reaching through the forest as they spoke.

An elven woman stepped out from the forest. She moved gracefully, flowing more than walking out from the trees that surrounded them.

"Where is Thrand?"​

The Elf demanded.

 

[Elias]

Elias listened well to what Liliana had to say. Stone-faced, he found himself agreeing with her sentiments. And then, for a fleeting moment, felt very empty. The resentment that steadily accrued within his heart had only fueled his frivolous behaviors over the years. His last name had only ever been a source of suffering, which he distracted himself from by drowning in all manner of vices.

Then there were others like Ralene who didn't let her last name define her. Liliana, too. Elias suddenly felt very small.

He opened his mouth to speak when the elf emerged from the treeline to confront them.

There was a moment of pause, and Elias responded cooly, "Which one was Thrand? I know Folas, but he didn't come with us, did he?" He glanced sideways at Liliana.

The elf tightly balled her fist, "Do not play word games with me, child."

"Look, we just... wanted to go for a walk. You know, alone," Elias reached for Liliana's hand and gingerly grabbed it with ease and comfort as if he'd done it a hundred times before. He flashed a winsome smile down at her, but his eyes were anything but gentle. "We rarely get time alone, isn't that right, darling?"

He held his gaze on Liliana a moment longer before switching back to the elf, whose brow pinched in deep thought.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana smiled up at the Elf as his expression wandered between the two humans. She felt Elias gently take a hold of her palm. His hand was less calloused than she had thought it would be, but she gave no noticeable reaction that she found anything strange.

"Of course, my love." She said as innocently as an angel trailing down from the heavens.

This was what she did after all.

Elias and Edric could ruin whole cities, Zael could burn out an entire fortress, but Liliana? Liliana played people like puppets. It was what she did. What she had trained her entire life to do. "The Academy is not exactly..."

She glanced at Elias.

"Allowing..." Fingers twitched, ever so slightly, barely.

Liliana grazed the Elf's mind, A weave so thin that even the greatest healers in the world would struggle to catch it. It was just the barest hint, the smallest tug at a thread of sympathy, love. An emotion that every man had felt in his life.

The Elf seemed to frown for a moment, his head shaking, and then a long sigh escaped him.

"You're supposed to have an escort, regardless.​

She smiled. "We're sorry sir, we just asked for some time by ourselves and...the hour went away from us. I am sure your friend must be around here somewhere? He mentioned something about a sibling."

The Lie fell from her tongue with ease, and yet...there seemed to be a truth to it. Elias would hear the hint of confidence in Liliana's tone, as though she knew the words would lead to what she desired.

 

[Elias]

"We're strangers to these lands, too," Elias added on, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand, "You know... we go one way, our escort goes another, and next thing ye know, we've all lost each other."

It took a great deal of concentration for Elias to flash the elf an embarrassing smile, but it was convincing enough, mostly thanks to the effect Liliana's weaving had on the man.

"We were looking to return, but I'm afraid we've lost our way. If you'd be kind enough to, uhm, see us back," another sideways glance to Liliana, "we'd greatly appreciate it."

 

[Liliana]

The elf continued to look at the two Initiates with no small amount of suspicion. His features only relenting when the touch of Liliana's magic finally began to take hold.

A shake of the head, a deep frown.

Those were the only signs that the weavings would give. Liliana had seen them often enough. A mark of the subtle changes within the mind. A reading of more than just what was before you. She smiled softly, and then the elf let out a sigh.

"Fine, fine. Get the hell out of here."​

He said with a shake of his head.

"Liaren. See that they get back to the rest of their kind."​

Another of the elves nodded their heads, slowly sliding into place besides Eli. Her features were lithe, smooth, expression entirely neutral. "Thank you sir, we'll be sure not to wander."

Liliana offered with a smile as they began to walk.

 

[Elias]

Elias sighed a heavy exhalation out through his nose as they walked out of the elf's earshot.

"Ahhh, I need to remember to pinch myself the next time I think about spending time with you. I'm not keen on making murder a habit."

Slowly, his hand dropped away from Liliana's, "I have the feeling this'll come back to bite us before the mission is over."

 

[Liliana]

Liliana slowly turned her head towards Elias. "Murder?"

She asked innocently.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Her voice was so flat, so steady and calm that it was almost easy to believe she truly didn't understand what Elias meant. Reality to Liliana was what she made it.

What she made others believe. There was no doubt in that. "Everything will be just fine."

She assured her wayward friend.

"We've already answered every question that need be asked." Liliana said, a shrug rolling over her shoulders as she broke away from Elias and began to stalk back towards their hotel.