Kathra settled herself in her bath, her hand closing on the scepter she had, even in the bath. The adamantine rod would not corrode or suffer from submersion, and being without it, especially while all her other protective gear lay piled nearby, would be inviting assassination.
Tomorrow would be an important day. As the slave’s fingers finished their treatment of her long pure white hair, Kathra smirked. The luxuries of living on the surface were pleasant, and bordered on making her soft. If she didn’t delight so much in causing others pain it might even make her as soft as the bitches of the elven nations she planned to subjugate and slay. Kathra could feel the enchantment they had taken from the captured mountain whores causing the water to swirl, gently cleaning the dirt and grime from her skin. When the feeling ended, she knew she was as clean as she could be.
Rising from the water she spun her hands in the magically mandated form. “Ra meian val somir.” She intoned, and the water was driven from her skin and hair.
She went and began to dress, starting with the undergarment they called Vrothan. It was a simple garment, a single strip of cloth that stretched from the top of her sex down underneath her and up until it covered the top of the crease between the cheeks of her ass.
“Novur!” She commanded, holding each end in place. The magic would keep the garment in place until released.
She then pulled up a simple gown for sleeping. Her slaves would clean and tend to her armor and accessories for tomorrow. All she needed to do now was rest.
She retired to her bed chamber. The dark chamber held the circular eight foot bed. The circular chamber had intricate stone carvings of shadow elves conquering, slaying and enslaving all before them. The serpent mark of Ya’av could be seen everywhere.
As the Elven queen laid down, her pet curled around her.
“Ah, there you are, Silantir.” The queen crooned, her hand caressing the hooded head of the dire cobra.
The beast was at least thirty feet long, with jet black scales stretching from its nose to the tip of its tail, only broken by the stark contrast of the white scales of the two circles and the dipping loop that connected them on the back of its hood. The scales of its stomach were an icy gray. Its eye was dominated by the enormous pupil that could tighten down to the thinnest of lines, but in the darkness was spread to a complete circle. Its tongue, almost as long as the elf it coiled around, flicked out tasting the air.
“You’ve gotten so fussy.” Kathra chidded the great snake, “A few days without bathing and you hide in your crevasse.”
Despite its size, the great snake could squeeze into a number of places, and it had no qualms about leaving her alone on a whim.
Kathra was pleased by its presence. In exchange for her body head during the night, the great snake would stand vigil over her. Between its strength, speed, venom, and the magic resistant qualities of its scales, no one would try anything against her so long as it was here. Though she wouldn’t complain if someone did try. The last two assassins had had their garments spat back out after they had been digested enough the garments could be regurgitated without the snake losing any part of its meal, and the matrons of the houses making the attempts on her life had summarily been executed.
Kathra placed her head on the snake’s coils and drifted to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was dark as we reappeared in Ealphamir.
I had to struggle to settle my stomach. No matter how many times I teleported, it always made my gut drop and this time, probably due to the stresses of the day, it almost made me hurl.
As I got my bearings and began to note my surroundings I saw the city was bustling. Despite the later hour the hanging bridge-streets were packed. Lanterns and lamps, hung and placed so neatly to match the trees around them that I had never even noticed them, were lit to light the way for the busy elves.
“There you are!” An elven soldier called as she approached, “The council wished to speak with you as soon as you returned. Quickly, this way!”
As I walked from the open platform we had arrived on I noticed that the bustle of busy elves still gave the platform its space.
Like a helicopter pad, I realized. It was a space designated for teleportations to arrive. Especially in a war torn nation, infrastructure would be vital, and having designated locations for teleportation to be targeted on would serve much like a helicopter pad or an airstrip, but was easier to maintain.
I saw other soldiers speak to what looked to be younger elven maidens, dressed in lighter wear, and the maidens ran off. Messengers. I realized. Looking up messenger birds and likely familiars flitted overhead with messages in beak or bound to their legs.
“Everyone is celebrating our victory.” Tavorwen explained, as we followed the soldier to the amphitheater of the Council of Elders.. “We have had so few to celebrate in recent years, and each one marred by the morning of our dead. Radrine’s death was tragic, and I’m sure her mother and father mourn her still, but the tides of this war shift and our victory this day is a momentous event.”
There was an almost reverence that hung in the air as the she-elves, almost exclusively maidens, parted for us. Hands were placed over their hearts and eyes turned heavenward in prayer as we walked past. I’d seen gratitude from some of the people we’d helped during my time in the special forces, the few times the locals even really knew we were there, but nothing prepared me for the inadequacy I felt. I was just a guy. A guy with just enough knowledge about firearms to direct their smiths to make them and the skills to use them respectably well. Honestly, I was a little bit of a butcher in that last battle.
I was torn. Yes, what had been done to Radrine was horrendous. But the shadow elves I’d killed were almost guaranteed to have been uninvolved. I hadn’t gotten any leaders, or commanding officers that I was aware of. I had just decimated the rank and file. I wasn’t nearly prepared enough to try a black ops style penetration into the tower to try to hunt down Kathra and any other leaders who may have been directly involved in the young elf’s enslavement and murder.
“But you did what needed to be done, and now they are cowering, flying white flags and buying time.” The reasonable voice in my head said. “And every single shadow elf you killed today would have gladly gutted every wood elf around you if you hadn’t stopped them.”
I straightened, fixing the slouch that had slipped into my posture. That was right. They were soldiers. Just because they were female, didn’t mean they were like the women back home. I knew the bare bones of shadow elf society, admittedly through the lens of their enemies’ perception, but from everything I’d seen thus far, the bias of the wood elves didn’t really have to do much to make the shadow elves seem vile. And the angel had told me enough about them to confirm much of what the wood elves said.
I shook those thoughts from my head as we arrived at the amphitheater.
Elders were hurrying to reach their seats as we walked in, and more entered around us. Some carried scrolls and papers, making it evident they were leaving other work to come to this.
Audriul walked past us and up the stairs to her seat, her staff in hand. She remained standing until all the elders had arrived and taken their seats, then she gracefully descended to her seat.
“Hero of Heroes. When word of your intentions and departure reached this body, we were filled with fear. Long have the days of your journey weighed on our mind and our prayers to the gods been on your behalf. Now with relief we welcome you home, triumphant. The word of the Great Father, X’Thallion himself, rang through Ealphamir proclaiming that Kathra hath invoked the Rite of Respite that she might escape your wrath.”Audriul proclaimed.
Each time I had come before these elders, their welcome had been more and more adoring, slowly shifting from the apprehension and distrust to this. Now they were practically beaming with pride at my accomplishments.
“As dictated by the proclamations of the Great Father, tomorrow morning, at first light, we shall send forth a delegation, consisting of myself, High Priestess Eomniva, General Melvitrere, and an honor guard of the Golden Stags. Master Thomas, will you join us, perhaps with some few of your house?” Audriul asked, but it was clear what my answer had to be.
“Of course, Elder Audriul.” I acknowledged, I placed my hand over my heart and attempted my best elven bow.
Audriul smiled at me, and I could tell she was pleased with my attempts to adapt to their culture.
“Rest well then, Master Thomas. We will greet you at first light at the Departure Deck. May the blessings of the gods follow you.” Audriul proclaimed, inclining her head in dismissal.
Walking from the council chamber, I almost chuckled. You could tell that Flendreir, Nauveir, and Risavis were the youngest by how they trembled in excitement at having been allowed into the chamber. Anbethir, Ulamir, and Zanantha were certainly proud to have played their parts in our expedition, but they handled it much better. Tavorwen, Creadean and Narusil glowed with pride as my matrons, as we walked out.
“Will the three of you accompany me tomorrow?” I requested of my matrons.
“Of course, Master Thomas.” Tavorwen asserted. “And perhaps three of the maidens as well. Do you agree, Creadean?”
Creadean thought for a moment, “Yes, probably your maidens. Mine would be less ideal should anything go amiss and we don’t want to bring an army.”
That would be Anbethir, Flendreir and Nauveir. That seemed like a good group.
We made our way back to our home among the maple trees in the Gold Leaf district. Entering the district caused the other traffic to drop off almost entirely, though there was still the odd maiden walking the hanging streets. Several bore ornate pots that I was not nearly familiar enough with clay creations to identify, with various flowering plants growing inside. Others carried small boxes or folded clothes. I realized that most of the maidens carrying goods were headed the same direction as we were, with the ones empty handed heading the opposite direction.
The reason for the disparity of burdens became evident when we arrived home.
Maidens walked up to my home bearing what I realized were tributes to the Hero of Ealphamir, handing them off to one of my matrons with a bow, then returned the way they had come.
Heilantu was the first of the matrons who had remained home to see me.
“Master Thomas is returned!” She called through the doorway.