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22
Council
Dosia and his patrol entered Wen-Fen-Nu long after midnight his troops were tired he could always tell. He had a report to detail, they did not however and so he ordered all of them to their homes. He was just as tired but he needed to pass the information he had to the Queen with all haste. Boahim was standing outside the Council Chamber along with a number of his Wolf Guard. Dosia noticed that they bore signs of travel as well. Boahim greeted him warmly.
‘I have information that the Queen requested.’ Dosia muttered failing to hide his fatigue.
‘Go and rest Dosia Elder, it can wait until tomorrow.’
Dosia did not argue bowing low and left. He wished he had better news but maybe there was still a chance, a chance that Alec could exploit.
Calqui woke to find herself in bed being held lightly by Alundi. Her bout with Soni had changed her. It was to Alundi’s joy but Calqui was not convinced. Alundi had tried to comfort her but even he knew that this was her journey and he could only guide her. The aftermath was a complete blur. She showed no ill or injury from Soni’s blade. She held immeasurable anger towards him but she felt his punishment was just and correct. She already realised where he would end up. Alundi and Isacal had the same thoughts but it could have happened no other way and so as of that moment Soni-Xao was now their enemy. Isacal suggested that he go after him but Alundi scoffed at the thought.
‘We will cross that bridge when we come to it.’ His confidence was inspiring but worrying. Alundi woke moments after her. They shared a passionate kiss. However Alundi pulled away half way through.
‘Isacal and Boahim are here.’ He quickly stood and dressed, as did Calqui.
‘Brother, Dosia and his patrol have returned. I have called the Council to session.’ Isacal stated.
‘Assard, the Annabels and Kraco need to be present, sister.’
She looked up at him worried, but bowed her head in agreement. Assard collected the Annabels and arrived at the Council Chamber just as Alundi did. Alagon had accompanied them. In no way was he unwelcome but he was not part of the Quest, however Alundi was not going to dismiss him. Alagon would not be part of this, he knew that his former comrade in arms suspected this.
‘Father, Kraco is ready.’
Alundi stretched out his will towards the gold dragon who had landed in the nearest clearing to the Council Chamber.
‘Kraco?’
‘Alundi’ He replied.
‘I am going to imprint your consciousness upon a plant within the Council Chamber. You will see, hear and experience everything that happens within, understood?’
‘Understood.’ Kraco replied.
The Council Chamber entrance opened for the entire Quest to enter. Alagon followed. With the entire Council assembled Dosia stepped into the centre, his patrol to his right.
‘Dosia.’ Alundi called strolling over to him.
‘Forgive me, I did not recognise you or your name when we were in Osia.’ Alundi muttered bowing his head.
‘Nor I you, young Alundi however that would be the same for many.’ Dosia said with a smirk. Alundi chuckled.
‘You look well, I trust you have more children by now.’ Alundi asked.
Dosia could not hide a proud smile.
‘Two daughters, two more daughters I mean.’ Dosia chuckled.
Even when Alundi was young it was still a subject of gossip that Dosia had only daughters, five in total now.
‘This Council is now in session, Elder Dosia if you please.’ Alundi retreated from the centre of the Chamber and stood by the plant he had connected with when he first entered the Chamber. There he connected its existence with Kraco’s mind and now all were present. A small glass sphere sat upon a small pedestal in the centre of the Chamber. Dosia stepped towards it and placed his hand on top. In a blinding flash all was different. It was as if the sphere had enveloped them all and they now stood in Dosia's boots as he slowly and quietly made his way forward through thick undergrowth. Alundi willed his magic towards the Annabels.
‘Do not fear. We are witnessing Dosia’s memories.’ Alundi also checked that Kraco was also experiencing this.
Dosia moved with caution. The moon was bright in the night sky casting sharp shadows and lighting the open ground ahead of them. Dosia had never been this far north before, which was surprising considering his age. He knew however where he needed to go, where he would be safe from prying eyes whether from the enemy close by or others farther away. Only three of his patrol were with him, the others were taking different routes and had not made it here yet or to their destinations. They would, Dosia was certain of it. A small rise that was nothing more than a small dyke had developed over the long centuries before. He fell to his knees and was followed to the ground by his two patrol members. Laying on his front he crawled towards the rise. As Dosia scanned his eyes just over the rise his heart skipped and all measure of worry, fear and anger grasped him for a second then it was gone replaced by his well-honed Elf logic. Though none of any within the Chamber could see, Io and Erreen stepped forward and placed their hands on the sphere as well. Now Dosia, Io and Erreen scanned over the rise again. Everyone could see from three different pairs of eyes.
Before them camped, were easily two thousand soldiers of Nala-Kahn. They scanned the great host from left to right and back again. It was hard for the Annabels to concentrate seeing all this from three sets of eyes, however Alundi’s caring influence helped steady them both. Alundi studied them sharing his thinking with Assard and Alagon. All three of them concluded that they were all spearmen. It was a defensive army. Dosia started skirting the rise they were behind. It was in that moment that they all felt Dosia's heart sink. Glancing up he recklessly proclaimed.
‘Oh my.’
Freezing, he stared at the somewhat small structure in the distance that had caught his attention. It had gained the name the Emerald Skull obviously because of its shape, but also because it usually shone with a bright green hue emanating from it as if the moonlit forest was reflected in the dense black structure, but not now, there was just the blackness.
‘It is over then!’ Fredren proclaimed loudly. All three removed their hands from the sphere and the memories flashed away revealing the Council Chamber full of blinking eyes. Alundi rolled his eyes.
‘If the skull does not shine, she cannot enter so…’ Fredren continued.
‘If she cannot enter the Skull why do two thousand men guard it Elder?’ Assard spat in frustration.
Some were confused, others namely the Elders were just as Fredren.
‘Dosia if you please.’ Alundi asked gesturing towards the sphere.
Dosia replaced his hand and this time Alundi joined him. The memory returned as Dosia stared at the dulled Emerald Skull and the great army that surrounded it. But now Alundi's influence showed. Some of the soldiers started to glow. Little Annabel recognised it easily as she fell into her sight. But something was now different, Dosia seemed to stand, however he and everyone there knew he had not.
‘You see much Dosia, I will help you see more.’ Alundi's voice whispered in all their minds.
It was as if Dosia started to float. Rising over the embankment and the soldiers beyond it. They had become like an eagle circling over the host of soldiers below them. A few glowed and those few glowing were nothing compared to Alagon, let alone Alundi and Assard. Alundi entered his sight and through him and Dosia they saw the Skull for what it truly was, blazing bright aqua and green and the deception that had eluded them. Alundi's joy was felt by all. With his influence they sailed over and around the Skull where Dosia had not seen or indeed any of his patrol. The front steps of the Skull were a flurry of activity. But one group that remained standing as statues caught everyone’s attention. They glowed with magic, magic that rivalled any Elf but then they fell sharply. In front of them were the sealed teeth of the Emerald Skull. However there was a black figure that wou
ld not have been noticed only could now be easily seen in silhouette against the brightness of the Skull. Anger enveloped them all. The memory disappeared.
‘Darz!’ Alundi seethed.
The reaction of all the Elves present was predictable and also very amusing to outsiders. Some of the oldest beings that graced these lands and all of them turning on the spot and spitting at the floor.
‘Almost three thousand Men surround the Skull.’ Fredren started.
‘Not to mention Darz, his Elemamtels, and what wielders are present.’ Tarant-Quo added.
‘The soldiers will be ash, you can be certain of that. What I did at the Han Bridge would have filled them all with fear.’ Kraco’s voice bellowed in all their minds.
Assard and Alagon chuckled at the dragon's words.
‘That they would, but any wielder or Elemamtel can shield themselves and others around from your fire, however intense it may be.’ Alundi said calmly.
‘A full assault with our army would wash them away in less than half a day, even with Darz.’ Tarant pondered.
Alundi rolled his eyes and caught Isacal doing the same. Fredren and many others shot to their feet shouting their opinions. Isacal stood sharply and all ceased, retaking their seats.
‘Thank you.’ Alundi muttered to his sister smirking slightly,
‘For the first time ever Fredren, we are in agreement. An all out assault is out of the question. The Quest will succeed.’
Only Assard did not look at Alundi in utter disbelief.
‘How?’ Alagon blurted out much to Alundi's surprise.
‘To get young Little Annabel within the Skull, we do not have to destroy the holding force.’
Confusion and surprise were plastered over all of their faces. Calqui stared at Alundi not knowing whether the Man she loved more than anything in this world was being serious or trying to make a sarcastic joke.
‘Brother you cannot be serious?’ Isacal asked trying and failing to cover her apprehension.
‘Three thousand Man soldiers, a number of wielders, fifty Elemamtels and a corrupted Elf, not really a challenge.’ Assard boomed.
Alundi smirked and glanced at his son.
‘I wouldn’t go that far.’ Alundi muttered.
‘The Elf army will take far too long to assemble and march on the Emerald Skull. And as skilled as the Elves are at hiding themselves the chances the host is spotted is far too high. Nala-Kahn would despatch reinforcements to the Skull before we even got there. All out war MUST be avoided. For a year, at least.’ Alundi boomed.
‘You always had the best tactical mind, Galahad, well next to Arthur anyways. What are you going to do?’ Alagon said.
Alundi glanced at him noticing he said you and not we. Glancing at Fredren then Tarant.
‘The Quest minus yourself My Queen and…’ Alundi slowly glanced at Annabel, who held Little Annabel,
‘...you young Annabel, will ride upon Kraco. Assard and myself will jump first and engage the Elemamtels and Darz should he want to try his luck.’ Alundi added for Assard’s benefit.
‘Kraco will then do what he does best…’ Alundi could not help smirking when he heard a rumble from what seemed to be the plant that stood beside him.
‘Darz has no love for the Man soldiers, he will not commit his Elemamtels to their protection.’
‘Calqui and Boahim will land after us hopefully with Little Annabel as well and we shall keep them busy until she and my father are within the doors of the Emerald Skull.’ Assard ended.
‘You make it sound easy, simple.’ Alagon muttered
‘No plans survive contact with the enemy.’ Alundi replied.
Both the former knights smirked obviously sharing a private joke.
‘If I could make a suggestion.’ Tarant quietly interrupted.
‘You will need cover whilst you all disembark from the young dragon. A flange of our archers can strike at the heart of the great host maybe even get close enough so that our arrows could reach the steps of the Emerald Skull.’
Alundi was hoping Angeli would suggest this but the fact it came from Tarant was great news. He held a great measure of respect amongst his fellow Elves, Elders as well.
‘They can do this and melt back into the wilderness. Even if they were charged, there are few beings that are faster than us Elves.’ Tarant proudly boasted.
Alundi was still considering this.
‘I can give your archers the knowledge required to make this easier.’ Assard muttered.
‘You will commit even more to this?’ Fredren desperately and forcefully said to Isacal.
‘I will fight for young Little Annabel, without orders, and not under any loyalty.’ Calqui boomed glancing at the Man she loved.
‘It is the right thing to do, and I am going to do it, and I am not the only one.’ Calqui almost seethed.
Some disappointed faces peppered the Elders but most were shocked at her outburst. Calqui stared at Fredren and in those few moments she understood who or more importantly what the Elder was.
‘It is settled. We will follow the orders of Alundi leader of this Quest.’ Isacal proclaimed.
‘Now however we need to discuss what our plans are after Alundi and young Little Annabel are within the Emerald Skull.’ Boahim said confidently.
‘Our first action will be to launch a rescue mission for the children of Ne-aan.’ Assard immediately spoke.
'The blatant truth is and I am sorry Alagon…’ Assard paused to glance at his new friend.
‘…is that Little Annabel is far more important then any of the children that have been kidnapped. But the moment we have succeeded that is another story.’ Assard finished.
‘It will also help our cause. If they are being held in the fortress of Mielach and you are successful, Nala-Kahn will be reluctant to send forward his armies.’ Alundi spoke.
‘To prevent open war we will concentrate on hit and run attacks spearheaded by Gurean and his Man-Elves. They are the best fighting force you have on horseback and they can easily pass for Man, unlike most of you.’ Assard said glancing at the Elders.
Isacal smirked and stepped forward.
‘After much deliberation, I was going to appoint Alec General of the Elven Army.’
Before he could say anything Isacal shot Fredren a fierce scowl.
‘However as you will not be here with us for the next year, I appoint Assard my nephew as General.’
There were no shouts of outrage from any of the Elders or the younger members of the Council. Even Alundi was shocked at her words. In no way did he doubt his son, in fact he was certain that Assard was wise and skilled enough to do this. But as the Elves would still consider Assard a child in age it was still a surprise.
‘Are there any objections? Before they are voiced I will simply say that Assard will be the foremost expert on magic whilst Alundi is within the Emerald Skull.’
‘Also, being a student of Galahad, he has had the best teacher, far greater than Merlin, or even Arthur.’ Alagon added forcefully.
‘Do you accept, Nephew?’ Isacal asked offering her hand in a Man's custom. Assard took it softly.
‘I do, Auntie.’ Assard replied with a smirk, which made Isacal smile broadly.
‘We shall attack when the moon is at its darkest, which is?’ Alundi said looking at Dosia.
‘In seven days.’ Dosia replied.
Alundi strode over to the Annabels, both of whom had been uncharacteristically quiet. He took a knee before them both. He tapped Little Annabel on her nose making her smile brilliantly.
‘This parting will be hard young ones to both of you and both of you will despair in your own ways. When Little Annabel returns she will no longer be the little beautiful child you are holding young Annabel.’ Alundi muttered looking straight into Annabel’s eyes.
‘She will be a woman. A skilled and powerful magic-wielder and a great s
wordsman yes, there will be many changes. Hopefully she will still retain this sweet mind.’ Alundi added smiling proudly.
Little Annabel blushed and turned away from him embarrassed. He winked at Annabel who was also blushing.
‘Seven days. Alagon, I trust the Ne-aans will celebrate?’ Alundi asked standing up.
‘Without a doubt’ Alagon boomed.
The Council was adjourned and they all quickly continued with the preparations. Assard headed straight for the training arenas, Alagon in tow. Boahim left with Calqui both of them having many tasks to keep them busy. The Annabels returned via Kraco to the Ne-aans leaving Alundi to stroll to his home. He collected the dragon hide he had been storing for Assard. There was more there than he had at first realised. In his estimate there was plenty remaining. He headed for the training arenas searching for Natali-Po, whom he knew was in Wen-Fen-Nu. It took most of the morning to find her in one of the smaller armoury tents that skirted the training arenas.
‘Natali-Po, may I enter?’ Alundi asked at the mouth of the tent.
It was in this moment obvious that whatever loyalty she had towards Xais-Xao and in turn Soni-Xao was still very strong, as she seethed.
‘Do I have a choice?’ the contempt was warming to Alundi in a strange way. Some things never change.
‘You do, but it is an illusion.’ Alundi replied stepping into the tent.
‘It is obvious that we are still at odds, but I am in need of your help and being owed a favour from the brother of the Queen of your people may be a good thing, yes?’ Alundi asked confidently.
‘What can I do for you, Alec?’ Natali asked looking up from the chain mail she was folding.
‘I need you to fashion the same garment you fashioned for me, for my son Assard, out of this.’ Alundi added handing Natali the dragon hide. Her eyes shot up recognising it immediately.
‘Assard will arrive here soon so he can be measured once he has finished greeting his army commanders.’ Natali was stunned into silence something that has never been done before.
‘You have my deepest thanks for this Natali-Po Elder.’
‘Uran, meet my mother!’ Little Annabel screeched towards the Dwarf. He stepped forward and bowed low making himself seem much shorter than Little Annabel.
‘I hear you are an outstanding cook?’ Uran muttered.
‘Master Dwarf, should you wish to assist in the preparation of the midday meal you may eat with us and be our judge.’
Uran laughed and bowed low again towards Prem who was carrying her son Mel. Selec who had been staying with Zeece and the others made a quiet exit knowing she would not be welcome. The introduction of the Dwarves made the midday meal an even louder affair. Few of the Ne-aans had ever seen a Dwarf. Uran and his family were greeted by every one of the Ne-aans even Alagon who was too young to be part of the battle of Jerome Mountains against the High Lord of the Northern Dwarf clan. Since then the Northern Dwarves had no love for Nala-Kahn but neither for the Knights of the Round Table. Alagon retold a story he was once told of the battle by his father, Bors. The Southern Dwarf clan always thought that the Knights had killed all of the Dwarves in the Northern Kingdom. Such information was obviously supplied by Nala-Kahn and his generals. As the day went on Little Annabel noticed that Alundi and Assard were nowhere in sight. She understood what was to be done. And knew and feared her parting from her mother. But though it was close it was not now. She made a point to spend the entire day trying and succeeding to forget the chaos that had enveloped them since that day she noticed Alundi in Four Points.
As the evening meal was served the sound of the Ne-aans could be heard from the other side of Wen-Fen-Nu. This time almost all of the Elves had arrived. It was obvious that Uran’s sons were the main reason that it was so loud. Little Annabel watched with joy as Galen and Nyorn challenged any who wished to challenge them at wrestling. None were really a threat, even the Elves who had stepped up. Little Annabel noticed Dosia being one that was defeated by Nyorn. It ended with Galen and Nyorn taking wagers on who would be victorious between them. The chorus of laughter sawed into the night sky seemingly warming the night air. Even Kraco who had arrived shortly before dusk was enjoying the battles and the laughter.
‘Unity.’
Both the Annabels spun round in shock not noticing Alundi who was standing behind them.
'Elf, Man, Dwarf and Dragon… living side by side, in peace.’ Alundi’s words seemed tight as if it hurt him saying it.
He again took a knee in front of them taking their hands.
‘We leave Wen-Fen-Nu in three days. And I have something to ask of you, wait… that is wrong. I have something to beg of you.’ He gazed into their eyes noticing their love for almost everyone around them.
‘Fill these days, with all the joys you can possible think of. For you will not see your daughter for an entire year. And you young one will not see your mother for many years. Make these days, days to treasure not just for the next year, or a number of years. But for an entire lifetime.’ Tears glistened in Alundi’s eyes. He leaned forward kissing them both on their brows. Standing he squeezed their hands then turned and left heading straight for a waiting Calqui. She smiled at both of them and in this moment Annabel knew Calqui was a perfect match for Alundi.