Private Tales To war, we must idle

[Eislyn Gray]

There was a delicate clear of her throat from the doorway. The guard jerked away from Ere's bars. He turned.

"Princess." The guard stood at stiff attention as Eislyn entered. There was a paler hue to her skin than before. Darker circles beneath her eyes. But she held herself tall and had an aura of power about herself that silenced any hint of argument or protest from the guard.

"I wish for an audience alone with the prisoner."

The guard looked like he was about to argue then thought better of it.

"Be careful, m'lady. Powerful elf here."

"I am well aware." The guard shuffled out as Eislyn drew up a chair next to the bars and sat slowly. Tired verdants settled on the elf.

"How're you holding up?"

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

They had done him the kindness of not fitting him with fetters during his imprisonment. Brief as it has been, so far. At least, that was what he could recall. They could have insulted him with shackles made of silver but they hadn't stooped so low. But if they truly had believed him a threat, there were metals that could contain magic. And runes. And yet here he stood, unbound except by earth, stone, and metal bars.

The princess' shadow was long as she approached, cast by a distant wall mounted sconce. Ere had to give it to the prison keeper, they had a way with atmosphere.

He approached the bars, slinging his arms through and resting his elbows against the cross bar. He pressed his face against the metal once more.

"Oh by the looks of things, a good deal better than you..." He sneered, though not admittedly at her. More particular to the banality of his situation. "Though, I must confess..." He lifted his hands upwards. "I am woefully absent promised things. Like tea..."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"Hm," if she felt any sting from his tone, she didn't show it. A princess was good at hiding her emotions. A skill more than just for negotiation. Standing wearily, she clasped her hands behind her back as she approached the bars.

She was well aware he could easily reach her through those bars.

"Perhaps that is something I can arrange. The townsfolk are not very happy about the sudden and new statue in the middle of their square." She was referring to the massive golem frozen in time. "But they are pleased to still be alive. Whispers of the elf's light magic are growing faster than gossip of a royal scandal."

Verdants full of flickering shadows searched his face closely.

"I imagine they're just holding you in here for show and for a few hours."

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

"Hmm." He nodded, a hand curling over to stroke his goatee as it poked through the bars. "I can understand that sentiment. The Golem is quite cumbersome. Hardly the sort of monument a customary Castellan would appreciate." A bit of sarcasm, and even a smidgen of contempt, seeped through his words.

He understood this logic but only from an academic point of view. A point of view born from living in various human settlements, Elbion included, and learning to appreciate the logic pathways that can go through even the most intelligent humans mind.

Things had gone well. But not in the way they had expected. When it came to looking a gift horse in the mouth, it was entirely expected for human rulers to oblige themselves on whatever fancies they decreed. A Golem was disarmed but still an eye sore, that much was true.

"Though...those whispers should be turned towards something else. In fact, that light show prevented me from turning that monument back towards forest. My view was almost entirely blocked from the origin..." He stated thoughtfully, pondering for a moment. "Though if I recall correctly, which I might not. I did bump my head after all. But if memory serves, you were in the appropriate vicinity. Did you see what cast such a curious spell?"

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Fingers twitched behind her back. Her face remained a mask. Unyielding. "Perhaps we should just be thankful the spell happened at all." It was clear she wasn't going to answer his question. At least, not directly.

"Perhaps wisdom would dictate you to claim credit? I'm not sure the villagers would be so lenient otherwise."

Verdants glanced away for a moment before coming back to rest on his own face behind bars.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

A lake may appear still but beneath the glassy surface, fish fight to the death over scraps and over each other...

"Hmm..." He uttered as he continued to press his face against the bar, clasping his hands together and exhaling loudly. He could understand being thankful for whatever that bit of magic was, though he was a scholar and curious sort. He couldn't settle for not knowing and he would never claim ownership over it. Particularly not when the populace was very clearly the touchy breed.

"No, I don't think I will do that. The effects of such a confession are unpredictable. Besides..." He moved from investigating a particularly dark corner of his cell back to Eislyn. Meeting her verdant gaze with his own. "I'm here for the sake of curiosity and tea. I have not lived for 380 years to die on the Spur."

It should have gone without saying that these bars and the very confines of the jail were simply suggestions for someone like him. Magical restraints were the only true means to prevent his departure.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Blonde brows lifted on fair skin. “Do you think you have a death sentence coming from these villagers?” Eislyn was surprised he’d jump to that. She’d just said they were holding him for show and he’d be released shortly. And if they didn’t, she’d see to it herself. She owed the elf that much for how he’d saved her with the wolves.

Eislyn didn’t like open debts.

Her gaze shifted from surprise to something more thoughtful. Did he think she was threatening him? She wished she could tell him about her magic. Only. For her people. Her kingdom. Magic was a death sentence. Her father was very xenophobic that way. She’d only found out recently that she had...ability at all.

And it was terrifying.

The man had wisdom in not admitting to something that wasn’t his. She wouldn't fault him for it. Even if it made her own problems not immediately go away. It would certainly make her own departure from this town more immediate. If anyone even suspected that she’d....well, she’d be in more trouble than with the wolves.

And it wasn’t safe to talk here. The guards were coming back soon if not already listening outside the door. Eislyn stepped away from the bars, hands coming unclasped to smooth down the fabric of her skirts. There was still fear on her part. Fear of being found out. Fingers pushing across her skirts helped to hide the slight tremble. “Do what you must. I’m certain you’ll be set free within the hour.”

The princess turned to go.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

He had lived a long time. And he had seen what superstitious people could do when no longer governed by reason or logic. What groupthink, torch fire, and pitchfork justice could produce. She was, after all, not talking to just an elf. Nor was he just a druid. And those things, alone, had been enough in his past to have him fettered and locked up. War was abound and tempers flared, heckles were raced and everyone was on high alert.

What better way to douse the flames of uncertainty than with a good old fashioned show on the gallows? The fact that she questioned such a simple truth or suspected that he was overeating suggested that she was either naive or willfully ignorant.

For the first time since he had arrived on the Spur, he felt anger rise up in him. It wasn't the fist fight, nor the racist comments, nor the impudence of a young werewolf demanding fealty from a lythari that was far beyond his age. It wasn't the Golem or the wolves attacking, or the Leshy's rising up from their lengthy slumber. It was a princess turning her back on someone who had, up into this point, only tried to help.

"What I must?!" He spoke, tone incredulous and spiteful. His hands unfolded to reveal nothing but his empty palms. "By your command...Princess." He retracted his hands from the bars and receded back into the shadows, beyond the breath of the aging firelight.

He was content for this conversation to be over. Silence surrounded him as he slumped against the wall, mutely rattling on his way down to sitting on the floor.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

She almost paused at the threshold of the cells.

Why was he so mad?

But she didn't. She kept moving as the guards resumed their positions. His anger was sparking some of her own. Though, she was a professional negotiator. She'd stood in front of many a king who'd become red-faced or other emotional state and she was able to maintain her calm. She didn't want this elf man to ruin her streak. Even if he was beginning to irk her at his lack of trust in her methods.

It didn't take her long to find the town's mayor. Most of the survivor's were re-building the walls. Most couldn't stop gawking at their new statue.

She blinked at the man.

"You understand why we can't just let him go. Someone that powerful is a threat."

"But he saved the town."

"Perhaps. He may have also attracted the trouble. We're short on trade this year and Vel Anir scouts would pay a lot for someone like that to study."

The proclamation and made so boldly made her stomach churn. And Vel Anir scouts here? Eislyn frowned.

"Surely a princess from the Iron Fortress would understand our handling of such a beast."

To her credit, Eislyn kept her face a perfect mask. "Of course," she finally managed, voice level. "Since you have the situation well in hand my men and I will be going. We still have our mission."

"Ah yes, the coming war," the mayor patted his portly belly. "So many moan about the losses of war while they miss out on the profit."

Eislyn forced a smile. She had to make a show that she was leaving. Or else she wouldn't be able to get away with what she planned to do next.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

The Esquire had a gleam in his eye as he trudged in, fondling the round end of his sword pommel with a gloved hand. The sort of gleam that suggested he was getting exactly what he wanted. As he moved into the Dungeon, Ere stood back up and approached the bars. He coiled his hands around the cross bar and pulled them back just quick enough to avoid the baton smack.

"Oye!" The knight in training laughed as the ring of wood against metal sung through the damp air. He proceeded to twirl the truncheon with a leather wrist strap. "Almost got ya there, knife-ear! Almost."

"Almost only counts in-" The baton hit the metal again and Ere instinctively wrapped his hands behind his back.
"I say you could ferkin talk, elf!" The man leaned forward. "I didn't tink so, so keep yer trap shut!"

Ere stopped talking.

"Ya see, elf." The man went on, smacking the wooden rod against the bars. "I can't sleep whilst I'm watching ya. And if I can't sleep, you bet as warm as an ass's arse that you won't be sleepin' either. Ya hear me, elf? Eh, speak up!"

"I hear you."

"Good. Good. Now, I'm going ta tell ya about the time I kilt an elf down in Fal'Addas. Pay attention now..." He smacked the bars again. "They'll be a test at the end. Failing means I'll come in there, give ya good walluping. Wouldn't want that, now would we? Eh? Speak up." He smacked the bar again.

"No, we wouldn't." Ere responded with a deep breath, stifling a groan. His curiosity was wearing thin.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eislyn rode Ruffian right out of town. Her men Geoffrey and the now healed Eric went with her. At the first moment away from the watchful view of the villagers, they brought their horses to a stop. They didn't have to go far. Not even the first light of the dawn was peaking over the horizon. The snow was still roughed up from the attack earlier in the night.

Eric's breath puffed into the night in a warm cloud as he spoke, flipping up the cowl of his cloak.

"Are you sure princess?" He didn't like the idea of leaving the one he was sworn to protect. Not to mention her saving his life from earlier. She was so unlike her father, it was startling at times.

"Quite. Be careful Eric. I cannot afford to lose you too." He dipped his head, then urged his horse back, looping around the town and using the cover of darkness while he could. Eislyn waited with Geoffrey in the small cluster of trees. He knew better than to question Princess Eislyn even if he wanted to point out that she was going to a lot of trouble for someone she'd just met.

Her pair of verdants remained looking after Eric's form who had long disappeared in the night.

Not long, there was a muffled, err-THUMP outside the cell-door where the guard was heralding Ere with his stories. And quickly after that, the door burst open to a black-cloaked man with a hidden face who rushed the solitary guard.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

The diatribe was long and clearly contained many falsehoods. There were several points in the conversation, one sided as it may have been, where Ere had to fight the urge to interrupt with a quirked brow and various questions. For instance, the Esquire suggested that an elf had cast a spell of fire against him and he had deflected it with the a graceful play of his shining sword.

That was clearly false.

Another part, the Esquire suggested that he had climbed a tree, to escape a rampaging bear, in a full set of armor.

That was likely false as well.

Ere would have wagered that more of the story was false than true. So when all had gone silent, he had heard a thump and had seen the door open back up, he was happy to see that the would be knight had fallen upon misfortune. At the moment, he paid little attention to his own well being or to the motivation of the cloaked figure.

That changed as the door swung open and the pacifistic druid stepped back, lifting his arms in surrender.

"It wasn't me. I think." He paused. "Thanks?"

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eric didn't think the guard was too hard to take out. Clearly a soldier out of practice lazying about in a small town. Unlike Eislyn's escort duty.

"C'mon," he said gruffly, the cowl keeping his face in shadows. "Try to keep up. Dawn is coming soon and we'll need the darkness for escape." Eric turned and made his way back from where he came. He paused in the doorway and glanced back.

"The princess sends her regards." Hopefully the man would get the hint.

The first body of the guard he took out was still lying knocked out halfway down a set of wooden stairs. Eric carefully stepped over him and quickly to the outside door. His gray horse would hopefully still be where he left him.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

Before the man could imply that the princess was involved, that was the only conclusion that Ere could make. For a single moment, he had considered the knight that showed a form of command over the Esquire. But that idea was vanquished as he recalled the knight having intimate knowledge of the Virvyre clan. There wasn't really anyone left in the Spur to vouch for the druid.

Perhaps the Princess had left for a reason. Though it still remained that neither of them were being honest with one another.

Ere quickly followed after though it took some effort to overcome the ache of confinement and wounds received from his fall. He instinctively rubbed his hands though they had never felt the grace of shackles. As they broke free of the subterranean dungeon, Ere breathed in deeply of the fresh air and looked around.

The town had died back following the attack, recouping in their taverns and homes. Ere looked towards the man in his cowl and waited for any cues on what would occur next. If push came to shove, the druid had some thoughts towards maneuvering his way out of the hold.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eric crosses open ground silently until he hugged the side of a barn. His gray mare was still there. Head dipped, munching on straw between the snowy ground. There was another horse. The one Ere ride earlier who trotted out from the back.

Eric tilted his head, an old scar running down his cheek catching in the moonlight.

Strange.

Eric wouldn’t question the gift horse and all that. Gripping the reigns of his mare, he quickly lead the horse between two buildings and toward a break in the wall. Woods lay beyond. Beckoning freedom.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

Ere didn't as much as bat an eye when he looked upon the horse. Instead, he approached and Ullr, in turn, lowered his head. The elf ran his hand across the horses neck, crossing his dirty nails through the beasts mane. It seemed that, for a moment, they shared a bit of kinship. And Ere had to admire Ullr for having returned, for agreeing to let the druid ride him once him once more.

Ere didn't grab any reigns or lead Ullr about, though he did pause for a moment in quiet contemplation. Once the proper terms were agreed upon between Ere and Ullr, the druid followed Eric out.

Ullr followed quietly behind the elf. Well, as quiet as a trotting horse could be. It seemed they both were being lead in a certain fashion.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eric gave a glance around and finally paused within the wood-line as they crossed over the broken wall. At one moment, he silently motioned Ere to hug the shadows of the wall. A sentry was passing above them. But there was no incident.

Once in the trees, he mounted up and let the cowl of his cloak fall to his shoulders. The first warmth of the sunrise was beginning to lighten the sky. A little before the sun itself showed.

“Don’t go east. The baron’s men are prowling the woods. You should be safe going west as long as you give this place a wide berth.”

It was clear Eric was parting ways. He didn’t have orders to bring the man back. Only to set him free.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

His initial instinct was to follow the man's guidance. Not specifically, but in a general direction. He'd likely go South, find a place for shelter and take to his more wild forms, find a water body and move far away from the Spur. The comfort of warmth was what he sought here but he had found nothing but strife and the agony of entrapment.

And an acquaintance. Maybe even a friend, one whom he may have treated unfairly. Someone who didn't look at him with the sort of disdain he might find in Fal'Addas, the sort of reverie he might find in Elbion, or the sort of disgust he could find in small towns and villages across the continent. She tried her best to shield her expressions, but he understood curiosity when he saw it. Particularly in the way she had shown interest in his position as a teacher.

"Uhh..." He stammered as he patted Ullr once more. "Would it be possible to see the Princess? It's still quite cold and there had been some mention of tea."

He couldn't quite throw off the chill of the dungeon. The bitter cold of the recent frost wasn't helping.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eric looked back at the man and frowned. Eislyn had given him direct orders to let him be on his way. She didn't say anything about not allowing him to come. Still. He didn't like it. He was part of the princess guard. And this man posed an unknown to her protection.

He frowned.

"Follow me but I will lead you not directly to the party." Eric was honest. He figured it would be better than to try for deceit. Eislyn's protection was all that mattered. "I'll go back to the lady and ask if she wishes to see you. Come." He urged his horse forward and then he was off, trotting through the woods. He'd come to a point where he'd command the elf to wait. A small clearing, far enough away from the xenophobic town that they'd be most likely safe.

"Wait here." Eric said gruffly, not giving the man a choice.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

Countless were the ways in which Ere could find his way around this restriction. Magic was boundless and within a placed filled with life, his reservoirs and conduits were infinite. A bird could play spy, the druid could sharpen his eyesight or sense of smell and sound. Some druids were even rumored to be able to project beyond their corporeal self.

But Ere had a sense of the current situation and decided that bypassing this figures request may no be in his best interest. Last thing he needed were more enemies.

"Ok…" He uttered, eyeing the scarred figure with a false sense of concern. The man was weary of the elf, as many were. This was no different from his general reception.

Ullr raised his head, flashing his mane about, as his forehooves kicked at some exposed soil and bare roots. Trotting about casually, the horse sniffed a few trees and came to a rest by a small spring. Ere assumed it was likely formed from recent snow melt.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eric quickly disappeared into the woods. Ere would find himself alone with nothing but the sounds of nature and that babbling brook. The sky would lighten further as morning turned into early mid-day. He might begin to think she wasn't coming.

Until he'd hear a horse trod quietly through the snow-covered ground. There was Eislyn, perched on Ruffian, looking very much like the royal she was. No cowl to her cloak this time. Back straight. Thick coat over thick winter skirts and top. High boots.

And she was alone.

There was no sight of Eric or Geoffrey.

If Ere had preternatural senses, he'd pick up that her two men were around, just on the peripheral, anxiously awaiting their lady's return. However, they wouldn't be able to hear a normal conversation, nor see what was happening. On her orders. much to their disgruntlement at leaving her alone with an unknown.

There was a saddlepack on her horse, quite full.

"I'm surprised you didn't just wish to part ways," clear voice carried across the crisp air. A small smile lingered on her lips. He'd been forgiven for his attitude earlier. How could she not excuse a man being grumpy behind bars?

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

He would never interpret inconvenience from being forced to wait in the woods. Quite the contrary. The scenery was breathtaking as the sun rose along the horizon, casting ribbons of sunlight through the upper canopy. Patches of undergrowth were illuminated in yellow and the diurnal forest creatures had come and gone, content with the morning harvest.

Swayed by a need to not be entirely uncomfortable, he had dismounted from Ullr not long after the cowled figure had departed. Wrapping the reins around a branch of an aspen, the horse had clearly grown impatient. He had taken to biting at the leather straps to pass the time.

Ere, on the other hand, was unfairly allowed to wander about. He took in the fresh hair, tucked a few particularly spectacular orange oak leaves into his pauldrons as decoration, and was conversing with a cardinal that had perched upon a sprig on his shoulder.

They were discussing the weather as Eislyn approached.

Ere perked up, as if surprised regarding her approach. "I had considered it…" He confessed as he turned, revealing a pine cone in his hand. His fingers were rummaging about for seeds that had not dispersed. "But I wasn't happy with how we parted. I wanted to apologize for my tone." He exhaled as he clutched a seed free from the cone and offered it to the chirping bird. It turned its head.

"Ahh, not to your liking?" He muttered, eating the pine seed. "I prefer them roasted as well."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

With a graceful swing of her leg and skirts, she dismounted Ruffian. A hand wiped down her horse's side, head canting toward Ere's direction. "I can hardly blame someone for their tone who is trapped behind bars for saving a village." Verdants remained light.

Eislyn gave Ruffian a long lead but tied him off near Ere's horse.

Eislyn drew a blanket from the saddlepack. She intended to at least have a conversation with Ere. And she preferred to do in comfortably. Shaking out the blanket which was water-proofed, it was spread along a small clear spot on the snowy-ground.

"I heard you wanted tea? Perhaps you could make us a fire?"

Or perhaps he'd use magic. Eislyn wasn't sure as she drew out a pot, bag of dried herbs, and two cups.

 

[Neremyn Virvyre]

"As I seem to recall…" He stated quietly as he shooed the cardinal off his shoulder lazily. It chirped, snapping at his hand, before taking to flight and landing nearby along a hemlock branch. "You were the one to mention tea."

And conversation. It was implicit in the arrangement that words would be exchanged. What words, and what truths, still remained to be seen. And that conversation would be hidden in obscurity for a few more moments as Ere was now tasked with starting a fire.

"Not that I am complaining." He leaned down and pushed some snow away from the forest floor. Picking out a few things, he began to build a small fire pit of perfectly balanced sticks a few feet from the blanket. The leafs beneath the small structure were damp but would burn eventually. He constructed it in a way to allow for proper air flow. "I quite enjoy tea."

It was a perfect beverage. Making use of things that nature has used in its entirety. Holding out his hands, he whispered. "Aenye…" The cardinal chirped and took to flight above as the hemlock branch beneath it gasped and the evergreen leafs on the stem curled up, shriveling on the branch. It was an unfortunate necessity for magic, that a payment must be made.

But death was also a natural part of life.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

A princess who wasn't afraid to adventure or get dirty, knelt in the snow next to Ere. Gloved hands gathered snow and placed it in the pot. Once she had plenty for two tea cups, she handed the pot to the magical elf. She was quiet. Unsure of where the conversation would go.

She was apprehensive.

Taking the dried herbs, she sprinkled them on top of the snow.

Better to keep the conversation away from herself.

"Where will you go from here?" Standing, she brushed off her knees and retreated back to the blanket, folding her legs beneath herself as she took a seat.