Chapter 1
The elves walked into the clearing in the Black Woods. The air was heavy with dread, and they whispered among themselves trying to dispel their growing fear. The ninth hour had come and gone as Salwein stood atop the misshapen boulder and signaled the meeting had begun. “It is with a heavy heart that I must confirm the rumors to be truth…” He paused while the crowd murmured their concerns. “The king of men has decided he no longer needs our protection, and by extension, our friendship.” More worry grew among the elves gathered. Caldern, the most rounded of the leaders who stood to the right of the First Elder, spoke up. “Will they attack us, or force us into another territory?” Salwein sighed in resignation. “I do not know for certain. The king has agreed to discuss a treaty, but I fear it will not go well.” The noise in the earthen stadium grew to a dull roar with concerned voices straining to be heard over one another.
“Quiet! My brothers and sisters, there is much to discuss. I know this is hard news to hear, but we must plan for the worst.” He turned to face the Third Elder, Begaeth. “I need you to gather all your warriors and discuss the most effective tactics for both defense and offense in the event of war.” Salwein then turned to the Fourth Elder, Vertoss. “You will gather the diplomats and find your three best men and women. Have them prepared to go into the other regions and make sure they are aware of the current situation.” With a nod, he and a group of 28 elves from the stadium followed him back into the woods. With the Third and Fourth Elders and their charges gone, the stadium was significantly quieter. “Caldern…you must come with me to Kilrot Castle to discuss the terms of the treaty. Leave your best man in charge and be ready to depart with me by the end of the week.”
Caldern nodded grimly and motioned for all but 5 of his men to go back to their homes and await instruction. Now just Salwein and Caldern remained in the clearing. They were old friends, and though they weren’t close in recent years the comradery they felt was still there. He turned to face Salwein. “Must we venture so soon into the King’s Land? Surely, if we were to go to war, one week would be far too early for anyone to be prepared?” The First Elder turned to face his second in command. “Caldern…we do not have a choice. I guarantee the discussions will last longer than a few days. We must trust that our people know how to handle the situation here. We have known this day would come for many years now." He said, sighing. "I only wish it had not come to pass so soon.” With that, they parted ways, and Salwein stood alone in the dark. He sighed, closed his eyes, and prayed he was wrong.
A few hours later back in the safety of the Diplomat’s Haven, Vertoss and the gathered diplomats began a very heated discussion about who needed to stay, and who would be best to make the long ride to the 3 territories in the rest of the Elven Step. Normally a timid man, Fenwik was growing increasingly upset. “I am telling you!” He shouted, “Kinnar cannot be trusted to go into the Veiled Forests! They have a very deep history and are bound to blame him for the news he would bring!” He huffed with angry red eyes. Vertoss tried to keep the peace. “Fenwik, if I let Kinnar outside of the capital ever, people are bound to threaten him. He is a good man, but I am not suggesting he go anywhere. He’s loyal, but also as hot headed as they come.” That seemed to satisfy his colleague into his usual demeanor. Vertoss turned to another trusted aid, “What about Hejli? She's always been good with the elves in the Veiled Forests, and she knows the dialect quite well. She grew up in the region did she not?” He thought for a moment and replied carefully. “I believe she would be a good choice. However, that would be putting her dangerously close to The Wall. I would be more comfortable allowing her to go with one of Begaeth’s men for safety’s sake.” Vertoss nodded, and the man went off to inform her.
With significant consideration and much more debate, two more elves from his post were assigned to go into the territories of Kitch Stone and River Forge. Turning back to his second in command, Vertoss addressed Fenwik once more. “I understand you are passionate about keeping the Elven Step safe…however sometimes tact is necessary even among the ranks. Please keep that in mind for the future. You are a valued member of the council, but I would caution restraint.” Fenwik looked down, ashamed for the moment. “Understood. Would you like me to go inform Salwein’s aid that we have reached a decision?” Vertoss nodded, and returned to the table to begin writing out the orders for when the diplomats gathered in the morning.
Back in Begaeth’s camp about 15 miles from the Black Woods every available soldier was awake and dressed in full armor. The fields were a flurry of activity passing out swords, shields, arrows, and packs. This was to be a full scale training drill involving maneuvers, attacks, strategies for each territory and terrain, and the skills used specially against the Beasts. Things appeared chaotic, but in reality Begaeth was proud of his soldiers. Often the best strategies looked like nonsense to the untrained eye. They would practice each drill, each strategy, and each countermove the rest of day. And although it was barely 3am now, he knew they were ready. He struck his sword onto the stone in front of him. The cavern was instantly silent.
“Soldiers! By now you have all heard the news confirmed. Our alliance with Men is about to end, and we are not sure yet of the outcome. Tonight’s drills will be geared toward simulations from every angle of attack; from Men, Fae, and Beast alike. Though it is a worst case scenario we cannot be sure who each Race will align with, so we will prepare for all-out War. Lewtren will be leading simulations against a Beast led attack. Dinfiir will lead us against the Fae, and lastly Keidra will lead us against Men. If all goes well, we will rest, and begin discussing strategies in the afternoon. Understood?” The 10,000 gathered all shouted, “Yes Sir!” And the training began.
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Just to the south of the Elven Step, the Isle of Fae was asleep. Almost no one outside of the Holy Lake knew about the trouble that was brewing just beyond their border. However, three people stood around the Queen on her throne. One of them was Mynn, her only daughter. She was wise beyond her years and as stubborn as any girl she had ever known. Which was why, to her dismay, the second person in the room was Seflek. Mynn didn’t know it yet, but the Queen had already chosen Seflek to take up a new position as the head of her military. He had been training extensively for years, but she hadn’t made it official. This was precisely why she was so disheartened to see him here. This news did not concern him, not yet anyway, but once her daughter had her mind set, there was nothing she could do. To Seflek’s defense however, he was bright eyed and bushy tailed, so it reassured her that he would have no problem defending them if the time came.
The third person was necessary. Head of Intelligence, Limtec was the reason the Queen had gathered them about her throne. He had been sent on a 2 month assignment to Men’s domain to establish trust with the King’s advisors. However, Limtec received information from an official even higher than the King’s advisors that things were not going well with the Elves, and he was terrified of the possible outcome. So with the officials blessing he left 2 weeks early from assignment and came straight to Holy Lake. He blinked in the darkness trying to read to information he had copied down. Just to his left, Seflek flicked his fingers and the paper became much better lit with the added firelight in the room. Mynn snickered, and the Queen shot her a glare. “Continue.”
“My Queen, let me state the good news first if I may?” Limtec looked nervous. Understandably so, men unnerved even her. “Please, that would be appreciated.” He cleared his throat softly, “The good news comes from our permanent contact at the edge of Men’s domain. He says fortifications have heavily decreased near the Horn of Peace, which gives us easier access to the seas.” “That is good news I suppose.” Limtec looked petrified, and the Queen was growing impatient. “Limtec, you brought us all here at 3am for a reason, and your nerves are not easing my mind. What is the bad news?” She stressed the last sentence to let him know she was in no mood for delays. “The bad news is that things are not well with the King.” Immediately, she sat up straighter. “What is the news of the King?”
“I was sent to make relations with the King’s advisors, and that was going well. However, they began to get pulled away to private meetings more the longer I was there. Naturally I grew weary. Early in my last week there, I was approached by an authority that rivaled the King’s.” The Queen interrupted Limtec, putting one hand in the air to stop him. “Was this meeting done with discretion? Were you seen by others?” Limtec reassured her, “No. This authority took the greatest care to assure that. The person who approached me said, in good faith, that I should proceed South through the Horn of Peace back home. When I inquired as to why, this person simply told me that trouble was about to start with the Elves, and any other race found within the borders would pose a danger.”
“What argument could the King have with the Elves? They have been peaceful with each other for many, many years!” Limtec eyed her wearily, and sighing replied, “Because my Queen…this man is cruel, delusional and paranoid. He believes the Elves are dishonest about their resources and he is growing angry that Salwein, one of the Elder Elves, has been so adamant that their borders do not change.”
“He is not a kind man, and certainly not a reasonable one. My contact also informed me that within 4 days of my departure, the Elves would be made aware that the King no longer wants their protection. Or friendship for that matter.” The Queen sat silent for several moments. Seflek spoke up softly from Mynn’s left. “My Queen…the Elves have always tried to keep the peace, but I fear the King’s edict may push them over the edge. It has since been 7 days since Limtec’s departure. I believe the Elves must know already.”
The Queen glanced at Limtec momentarily before asking him, “Do you believe this information to be true and the King’s threats credible?” Limtec nodded solemnly. She motioned that he may leave, and turned to face her daughter. Mynn didn’t snicker anymore. “Mynn, for a number of years now you have studied our world and our policies closely; what precautions do you advise we take? Bear in mind I still have final say.” She paused to wait for her reply.
“All we have to go on at the moment is hearsay of a potential traitor in the King’s Court. And while it may be a credible threat, I wouldn’t act just yet. Keep the knowledge confined to this room for now and alert the rest of Fae if the time comes.” The Queen asked her how long she would advise waiting, and why. She replied without hesitation, “The Elves are a race that takes action quickly. If they are already aware of the threat, it will not be long before they make preparations of their own. One of the most important aspects of war is knowing who your allies are. I believe if the threat is credible, and the information true, we will be hearing from one of their Diplomats very soon. And only then, once rumors are confirmed should we begin revisiting the treaties.” The Queen nodded her approval.
“What do you say Seflek? I was going to announce in a few week’s time that you are being sworn as head of Armies. What better time to learn? Who is our closest ally?” Seflek blushed at the look Mynn gave him. “It depends which front an attack might come from. If the Elves turn against us, Men would be a great advantage. However if Men attack us…” He paused, unsure. The Queen motioned him to continue. “Men’s capitol is close to the Suicide Sea. We could use the Holy Lake to our advantage and attack Kilrot Castle from behind, forcing them to retreat and defend their home. Perhaps the Beasts could prove a useful distraction as well.”
The Queen frowned deeply. “And what suggests to you the Beasts could be trusted? They have killed every diplomat and soldier from every race sent beyond their borders.” Seflek replied, “Regardless of their trust, the Beasts would be many hundreds of miles away from us in this scenario; and the fact that none return from their borders can assure us that the King’s advisors will meet a swift end.” She nodded. “I suppose. Well done, both of you. I will call everyone together in the morning for an official briefing. Seflek, escort Mynn to her room and see to it you both get rest. It will be a long day tomorrow.”
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The night dragged on in Begaeth’s camp. The soldiers were a determined and well trained group; however the hour and the lack of solid information about their enemy wore on their spirits. Begaeth could see their confidence waning, and though he knew a proper night’s rest would set it right he decided to call them together by 10am, seven hours after drills began. He would send the foot soldiers to meal and speak with each of the commanders in turn while their men were eating. His sword struck the stone above them once more, and the dull roar of a fading echo greeted him along with every face in his camp.
“Lewtren, Dinfiir, and Keidra: your men are released to meal. You three will join me in my quarters to eat. You can inform me of progress after we dine. You are dismissed!” A flurry of activity greeted Begaeth after they were dismissed. Somehow, the promise of food always got them moving faster than their energy on the field implied. He turned towards his tent, mouth already watering at the smell of stew and fresh bread. His men worked hard and played hard, they deserved to eat just as well.
Once they were all served and seated around the large stone table in Begaeth’s quarters, all talk disappeared as they ate their fill. Meals were a joyous occasion for the Elves, and while often their diet was routine and somewhat bland; their bread was fantastic. On the occasions when Fae crossed their borders, it was always bread that they sought to trade for. He closed his eyes and breathed in the steam from the stew they ate, savoring the way it smelled. Sighing, he turned to the Commanders. “Alright Lewtren, what is the progress on your drills? I understand today’s performance will greatly improve with proper sleep, so there isn’t need to be ashamed.” Lewtren grimaced hearing Begaeth’s recognition of their sloppiness. He took a moment before replying.
“The drills are progressing as well as could be expected. As you are aware, we have been studying the Beast-bred territory from beyond our borders for many years now and as of last summer we have identified at least 4 main attacks to use against them.” He took a breath, and smiled; a rare occurrence for him. “I had intended to reveal this to you at next month’s review…but we have successfully deployed the River Drone.” Begaeth gaped at Lewtren, along with the two other commanders. “When did this happen? Is the data ready to be viewed yet? That would be invaluable information to give to Salwein!”
Lewtren smiled once more. “The data will be ready to be viewed by the end of the month, just in time for Salwein’s return.” Begaeth breathed a sigh of relief. This was excellent news. The River Drone was initially Caldern’s idea to gather information that would otherwise be inaccessible from beyond The Wall. It was designed to be undetectable by the Beast’s magic, and therefore was able to slide invisibly between territories gathering valuable information on their enemy. The only downside was the information could not be viewed remotely. You had to retrieve it once every 2 months for a reading before you could send it back out.
Begaeth turned to Dinfiir, asking the same question. He replied without hesitation, confident as ever. “Preparations are going well for the drills with the Fae. We have been viewing old maps of the area for part of the morning and the terrain looks very promising, especially along the eastern border. Right now, the weakest point in their territory is about 8 miles east of the Holy Lake. However, we expect that to change as news of this reaches them.” Begaeth nodded, and frowned slightly. “How protected is the Horn of Peace? If the Fae do not gain control of it, it could be a large problem come war. Men are brutal, and I fear what they would accomplish there if given the chance.” Dinfiir replied, “I will look into it myself.”
Lastly Begaeth looked to Keidra. One of only 1,200 female elves in the army, she had a reputation for brutality. This was exactly why he placed her in charge of a plan for Men. She had a kind demeanor overall, but when it came to protecting their borders she was one of the best. Cunning didn’t even begin to describe her. She stared into the fire a moment before turning to Begaeth. “I am unhappy to say that strategy is going much better than drills. The terrain we would be fighting in is drastically different than that of the Elven Step, so it is difficult to accurately train for an attack. The movements in our defense are nearly perfect, however the offense is harder to correct when we are not in the appropriate area.” He nodded, applauding her honesty. She was a good soldier. “Tell me Keidra. What are the odds that men have trained for scenarios such as this? Will they be any better prepared?” She replied quickly, “It is not likely. From what Zena tells me, their borders are even thinner than ten years ago.” Zena was almost always on the move. She was the eyes and ears for the main force here; just north of the capitol.
“Very well. Continue to train until noon, and then we rest. I must go meet with Salwein in the evening, but I will be back by tomorrow. I expect a full report upon my return.”
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18 miles from the Capital of Denroth, Salwein rested. It was late afternoon now, and he expected to meet with the other Elders soon. He sat on a stone at the side of a thin river, weary and broken. He was far too old, even by Elven standards. Why he was chosen for such a long life was beyond him, but he was beginning to question it. Surely there was someone better suited by now. Yet, each evening looking into the stars, no other name appeared. Cupping his hands to drink from the river, he bent down too far and almost tumbled into the water. Cursing, he righted himself and swore upon his Grandfather’s grave he would not let his people down.
He went to the edge of the forest once more, and continued walking down the road. It was only three miles to the town he intended to stay the night in, and he could use a hot meal before meeting the Elders. Trotting along beside him was his Mare, Suuk. He used to ride her day in and day out, proud of how quickly she grew accustomed to him. But as the years passed he rode her less and less. Though she was in better shape the Salwein himself was, he made a promise to himself to only ride her when necessary. Growing tensions over the past decade made him nervous, and she could feel it. It was not right to subject her to his own misfortunes.
The next three days went by in a flurry of activity. The diplomats had received their orders to set out for the other territories by midweek, and Begaeth was working hard making sure needed repairs were carried out. By the end of the week, Salwein’s confidence had almost returned, and with Caldern at his side he almost felt hope. They would be ready, whatever came their way. He turned to his second in command, eyes green with renewed peace. Their eyes met, and they urged their horses forward to begin the journey to Kilrot Castle.
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In the Wilds of Me-Ree, the first Beast stirred on his throne. The blackened stone shifted underneath him, trying to escape his touch. Growling at the air around him, he grew angry. The wind spoke of rumors in the west, and it did not please him at all. Me-Ree was tired of rumors. He wanted fact. He needed sources he could rely on, and the wind was too thin to carry little more than legend. “Ke-la tiru! Bar ak te!” He shouted. As his words died in the still air around him, something dark rose at his feet. One of three spells he had found on the scroll years ago summoned a creature fearsome enough to suit his needs.
Me-Ree smiled and named him Death…Without another word he blended into the shadows, intent on finding his master’s truth. He paced within the walls of his new home. It was barren, but it suited him just fine. As his eyes glinted in the fire light, Me-Ree smiled. Death would get the job done. It always did.
