Читать книгу SYLVAN ELF CHRONICLES - Christianne Van Keuren - Страница 16

Chapter Ten

THE town elders discussed at length what was to happen in the next two weeks. Provisions were to be gotten in order and packed. A final survey was to be made of the trainees as to who was ready to leave and who still needed more training. There was also the decision as to who would have to remain behind to protect the village. Darius already knew that he would be remaining behind so he didn’t even put up a fuss. He knew he had to heal more.

“Master Peter, do you feel you can spare young master Jake?” Jeb Thornton asked.

“If it’s a dire necessity I can, but it will make it tight for getting the remaining weaponry ready. But we can make do.”

“I don’t know whether to be happy or disappointed.” Jake whispered to Darius.

“Lucky to be putting off the inevitable of having to make the decision.” Came Brian’s interjection. “Darius only had a brief brush of things to come and came out quite lucky considering what could have happened.”

“It didn’t make it hurt any less.”

“And well it shouldn’t, but you did save Vitaria’s life. Of that I’m certain.” And Brian walked away to join the elders.

Jake looked over at his friend before asking. “So, what caused you to snatch Vitaria from the jaws of death?”

Darius was thoughtful for a moment before answering. “It got too quiet.”

“You finally learned to listen to your surroundings.” Vitaria added.

Both turned to look at her. Jake eyed her up and down with an appraising eye. “Well worth the effort.” He commented as he winked at Darius. Vitaria missed neither the wink nor the soft blue sparkle in Darius’ eye as he spoke.

“Not totally sure on that yet.”

Vitaria’s eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at Darius invoking a smile from him. She turned her attention to Jake. “And just who are you?” She asked, giving him the once over.

Jake put his arm around Darius’ shoulders as he spoke. “Who am I? I, fair lady, am Jake Williams. Best friend of this poor unfortunate soul.”

Darius pulled away from him a bit as he gave him a look like he had two heads.

“I’m the poor unfortunate soul? It is I who must put up with you and your tag along existence.” He emphasized by tapping Jake’s chest with his finger. Try as she might, Vitaria couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Darius are you ever serious?” Before she had a chance to react, Jake had released Darius and quickly draped his arm firmly around her shoulders. “Maybe we should sit and discuss the unfortunate demise that you had to pull this fool out of M’Lady.”

Darius rolled his eyes skyward in disbelief at his friend’s blatant move, but before he could even do anything Vitaria was way ahead of him. As smoothly as a grape being pinched from it’s skin, Vitaria extracted herself from Jake’s grasp and slid her arm through Darius. “It is I whom is indebted to young master Darius for it was he who prevented a Lorkian spear from impaling me.” She gave Darius a sideways glance, “Even if it was not done in the most gentle way.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed as he attempted to give Darius the evil eye. “He can be very bewitching M’Lady. One must be very careful around him. He will woo you until won then discard you like old laundry. He has broken so many hearts that they’re stacked up like cordwood outside his window.”

Vitaria burst out snorting despite herself and quickly stifled it with the back of her hand. She looked at Darius, as he put his free hand over his heart as if in pain.

“Oh, that cuts me to the quick M’Lady, that you of all people would question my judgment after all we’ve been through; especially on matters of the heart.”

“That, dear fellow is why I must intervene on the young she-elf’s behalf.” Master Peter spoke. His booming voice made both young men jump. “Now if you two braggarts have sufficiently confused, nay harassed her there are other matters to contend with.”

And with that he slickly extracted Vitaria away from Darius and steered her towards the Elder table. Both Darius and Jake stood there with their mouths wide open. Before staring open mouthed at one another.

“We have been duped.” Darius commented.

“I’ll say, and rather smoothly at that my friend.” Jake added.

“He should be a silversmith with that tongue.”

“Yes, most definitely.”

They both knew that Darius would be staying back from the first battalion going out unless problems necessitated it. Jake was pretty sure he would be going. Both were half listening to what was going on as they continued to catch up on what had transpired last week while Darius was away.

Jake finally asked, “So how’s Kaleen?”

“Kaleen’s fine. None the worse for wear…Oh yeah she’s gotten very proficient with her sword.”

“Humph. Good.”

Darius kept his mouth shut about Draymus, although he knew that wasn’t why Jake had asked.

“I did get to talk with my Grandfather a little while I was there.”

Jake looked puzzled for a moment before his eyes flew open wide as he exclaimed.

“The elf leading Kaleen’s group?”

“Yes, that’s my grandfather.”

“He didn’t look old enough to be your grandfather.”

“He’s an elf…remember…we don’t show our age like men do.”

“But your father?”

“We talked about this before. Remember? I’m only half elven.”

Jake looked down at his feet trying to remember. He looked back up at him. “But you said…?”

“Same mother genius.”

Jake gave him a dirty look. “Yeah…now I remember. So what does that make you?”

“What do you mean?”

A smirk planted itself on Jake’s face. “Does that make you a half lord or something?”

Darius glared before giving a smart-assed answer as he pulled himself up tall. “Why yes and you may address me as such.”

Jake barked out a short laugh as he spoke. “In your dreams my brother…in your dreams.”

In short order the meeting began to break up and people started to leave. Gregan and Vitaria were given the messages from the elders as well as the plans as to when the villages would be moving forward with troops. Darius elbowed Jake sharply, causing Jake to look at Darius as if he was crazy. Vitaria came walking back towards them. He spoke a little louder than was necessary to Jake.

“Jake…you didn’t go see your girlfriend Jenna before you came over did you? Won’t she be a bit upset with you?”

Jake didn’t see Vitaria approaching as he answered. “No.” Then he followed Darius’ line of sight and saw Vitaria. “No Darius, Jenna wasn’t upset ’cause I stopped quickly and let her know what I was doing.” He glanced at Vitaria before continuing. “That’s what a man does to be courteous to his lady.” Then he gave Darius an accusatory look as he asked, “Why? Were you going to stop in and speak with her without my knowledge?” Jake winked at Vitaria.

The appalled look plastered on Darius’ face as he tried to speak spoke volumes to his character. The sputtered statement following ended all doubt.

“I…no!…I would never do that to you or her. You’re my best friend and Jenna is also a good friend. Best friends just don’t do that. I don’t know what they do at Silvarnon, but that we…it just doesn’t happen.”

“I’m glad to hear that, and no, that doesn’t happen at Silvarnon either.” She looked around until she spotted Simon. “Now let’s see if we can get your father and head back to your home. I can’t speak for you, but I for one would be grateful for a comfortable night’s sleep before the first morning light.”

One look at his father and his posture told Darius that his father was nowhere near ready to head back home.

“I can tell you right now that that notion is a lost cause. We might as well head out on our own.” Then he looked down at her, his face brightening like that of a young child with a secret to share. “Besides, I wanted…would like to show you where I have to slave away my daylight hours.”

She gave him a confused frown. Jake interpreted for him.

“What my besotted friend is trying to say is that he wants to show you the smithy.”

Darius gave him a pained look as Vitaria smiled at the reference of Darius being besotted with her. She gave him an out as she watched his eyes. “Maybe you can show me the ringmail that Master Finian was bragging on.”

Darius’ face lit up. “I can do that…” He paused unsure “If you really want to.” He was relieved as she smiled and nodded.

“Great…let me get my father’s attention and then we can go.” Darius waved at his father and when he got his attention, he pointed at himself and Vitaria before pointing at the door. Simon acknowledged with a nod before returning to his conversation. Darius grasped Vitaria’s elbow and the two slid out the side door.

Holding her hand, Darius led her through the back alleyways so they avoided the main sidewalks and streets. They quickly arrived at the smithy. Darius tried the door and found it locked. He figured it would be and slipped around to the back where he knew the back shed area would be open. During the summer hours the smaller forges and tools were set up on the benches in the open air shed. One side held the workbenches and the back wall held a variety of tools on pegs. The north side was closed off. And the two other sides had tarps that could be dropped to keep the weather out. The front remained open. This was where the forge was and there was still a great deal of heat coming from the forge.

“Stay right here.” Darius said as he disappeared into the shed. The warmth of the forge actually felt good against her face, almost making her drowsy. She didn’t get to drift away as Darius returned very quickly holding shimmering metal in his hands. Darius grabbed the poker and gave the coals a stir coaxing more light out of them as well as a few crackling sparks. A soft orange-red glow illuminated the area close about them. Vitaria came over to stand close to him so she could see the mail. Darius turned into her as he held the mail up to the light for her. Speaking in a low, subdued tone, her eyes flicked from the mail to his face. The embers burnished his cheeks and forehead with a ruddy blush of flickering reddish orange. His hair picking up the highlights of warmth. She listened intently for a while until she became fascinated by the flickering of light and shadows across his face. A shadowing of rough beard stubble removed any boyish softness from his face. Soon his voice drowned out to a low rumble, she could see his mouth moving, but wasn’t really paying much attention to what he was saying. A small breeze tickled a little more light from the forge causing a light to sparkle in his eyes like twinkling stars. His voice became comforting as she closed her eyes and for just a moment she allowed herself to slip back to when she was dressing his wound. He was just as close to her and had looked deep into her eyes for the first time. She unconsciously leaned into him, allowing his warm, masculine strength to envelope her. She could smell his soap, but it didn’t mask the male muskiness all men exude. The female side of her awakened. Any and all traces of being an archer and soldier drifted with the sparks on the night breeze.

A gentle poke in her ribs accompanied by a “Vitaria are you listening to me?” brought her quickly back to where they were; standing dangerously close to one another. She stepped slightly away from him making Darius want to kick himself for jarring her.

“Is something wrong?”

“No…I’m…nothing.” She answered as she fingered the mail and marveled at how similar it looked to her Uncle’s pattern.

“Well something’s the matter,” His gaze almost stern.

“It’s late. Probably just the night air and the fire’s warmth, I just felt sleepy.”

“Uhmmmm, If you say so.” His expression softened to her nearness and vulnerability. He had to fight the urge to reach out and pull her closer to him. He gave her a tender smile and was about to say something when something caught his attention out beyond the glow of the forge. He snapped his head about as he tried to figure out where the sound was coming from. Without much ado, Darius began pushing her back into one of the darkest areas of the shed until her back hit the wall and he pinned her there with his body. She started to struggle against him, Darius sensed she was about to scream and brought his hand up to cover her mouth, his own mouth close to her ear as he whispered harshly.

“Shhhhh! Someone’s out there. Listen!” He turned his head away from her as he looked out of the shed towards the forge. She continued to struggle in his grasp and he was beginning to lose his patience with her. His voice, low and harsh.

“Stop! I’m not trying to do anything, but save our asses. Trust me.” He released his grip on her mouth.

“Why?” Came her angry whispered retort until she heard the unmistakable snap of a twig under someone’s weight.

“It could be Jake you know.” She paused before adding, “It might be an animal.” But even she didn’t believe that. An animal would just shuffle it’s way through or would have taken off.

“No.” Darius said shaking his head, but still not turning to look at her as he continued to strain his eyes to see. “He lives the other way, as does Jenna. No reason to come this way now.”

An odd snuffling sound accompanied the cautiously approaching footsteps. A shadowy figure was just beyond the light. It was oddly shaped and the clothes were definitely something he didn’t recognize, they were too big for the body inside them. He couldn’t see a face, because the hood was pulled up over burying it deep within. Darius wanted to have a closer look and was about to pull away from Vitaria, but she grabbed a hold restraining him. “No!” came her mental whisper. “Wait.” His frame didn’t relax, but he stayed where he was. The figure also froze as if it heard her. The shrouded figure turned and headed for the shed. As if providence were watching over the two, a sudden small gusting wind dervish swirled around on top of the forge causing the coals to dance to life. The small wind devil of hot air and flaming sparks illuminated the area for just the briefest of seconds before changing direction and making a beeline for the shrouded figure. The sparks flying about like angry, fiery red bees. The light followed the sparks as it lit up the eyes within with an eerie, sick glow. They closed in a heartbeat as the stinging sparks rushed in biting and burning the face within. Arms flailed against the sudden onslaught to no avail as the sparks found their mark and the figure growled painfully. The pinwheeling arms brushed the hood back slightly revealing the rat-like profile as bony, ugly hands thrashed about. Darius made an involuntary gasp at the sight drawing the creature’s attention despite the flying sparks. Vitaria slid herself along the wall towards the corner, pulling Darius along with her. She put one hand up to his mouth hushing him as the other stayed wrapped around his waist preventing him from moving away from her. His one arm around her waist as well, pulling her into him protecting her. The next sound Darius heard came deep from within Vitaria’s chest as she growled like a large boar raccoon while stamping her heel in the dirt floor. Whatever, or whomever it was decided to stay out of the shed as it scurried away into the night. Darius managed to catch sight of the cape color. It was a deep russet brown. He turned back to face Vitaria. Her eyes locked with his, as they reflected the glow of the forge an occasional red crystal spark launched itself up into the night air from the coals as they calmed down.

Vitaria’s hand caressingly slid across his mouth to his cheek then to his shoulder before skimming slowly down his back to rest in the small of his back. She looked up into his eyes then to his mouth. Her head tilting up slightly and to one side, lips parting, inviting him to kiss her. Her breath quickening, breasts rising and falling rapidly as they brushed against his chest, bodies pinned against one another. Darius leaned into her as she used the wall behind her to support them both. Darius’ eyes flicked from her eyes down to her soft mouth. The tip of his tongue just barely coming out to wet his lips as if in anticipation of tasting something sweet before disappearing back into his mouth. Dreamlike he leaned his head down to kiss her when he stopped, tightly squeezing his eyes shut before shaking his head as if to clear it. He dropped his forehead down on her shoulder, shaking with desire, heart pounding as it never had before with a girl. He took deep breaths, his chest heaving trying to regain control of himself. With a concerted effort he planted both his hands against the wall and pushed himself away from her, walking back towards the forge.

“I’m sorry. That was not my reason for bringing you here…honestly, I really did wish to show you the chain mail that Master Finian and I created.”

His back was to Vitaria as he leaned forward and grabbed the edge of the forge. It took a moment for Vitaria to compose herself before she followed him to stand beside him. She placed her hand on his arm getting his attention.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. If anything was to happen it would have been because I wanted it as well. You were honoring my request of respecting me. Thank you.”

A warm smile lit up his face just as the embers did, Darius turned back to the forge.

It’s late. Let’s get you back to the house as I’m sure you’re just as tired as I am.”

Ventina on the other hand was not a very happy camper as her face burned from the flying embers. Embers that had seemed almost possessed as they swarmed about her face in an angry cloud. A fiery mass of biting stinging burns on her face and hands. She cursed under her breath as she would be unable to hide the burn marks without some salve and her ability to transform her image. She couldn’t hide wounds in her leathery hide no matter what face she put forth. Ventina had almost entered the smithy, but Vitaria’s growl and the fact that she didn’t want to tear her clothing deterred her from entering. The tiny burns changed her plans for the night as she had been heading for the tavern to find Billy, but now she would have to put her plans on hold. It was an annoying setback, but if Billy saw Vanessa with the burns now and then saw Ventina as her human form with the same burn marks. Scurrying back home, she quickly undressed as she checked her dress for any scorch marks. Seeing none she hung it back up and relaxed to her true form. She busied herself with making a salve to smear on the burns.

The town had been very busy of late and that was one of the reasons she had passed by the smithy, but Master Peter like the rest of the town had been very careful at concealing all traces of what they were doing. Master Peter had made sure that he put all the weaponry away and anything associated with it. What he left out were the normal things, horseshoes, trace chains for wagons and farming equipment, things he was actually working on in between. None trusted Ventina as they also noted her increased activity at night.

Ventina went over to where a pot hung over an open fire in the fireplace. Using the pot hook she pulled it towards her and gave it a stir. She took a quick taste. It was ready.

“Might as well eat.” She said to herself. “A nice big bowl of Harry stew will just hit the spot.” She cackled at her own joke as she settled down to eat.

Ventina probably wasn’t even home yet when Darius and Vitaria started back.

“We’d better get back before something is said.” Darius said as he began putting the mail back away in its original spot.

“Who is worried about being talked about now?” She chided him, poking his ribs for emphasis.

“Not my reputation. I need to worry about M’Lady.” The sly smile accompanied his sideways glance back at her.

She made a face, but smiled back as she helped put things away. They walked side by side until they got to the side street that Darius always cut through as a shortcut. He didn’t even say anything, because she must have anticipated what he was thinking. She grabbed his hand and they lightly ran to his backyard. Darius still had a hold of her hand as they walked through the yard. They were heading towards the door when Vitaria tugged on his hand making him stop. Darius looked back at her, a question in his eyes.

“Something the matter Vitaria?” He asked

“No…It’s…it’s just that I’ll be up very early, and I wanted to say goodbye for now. Thanks for sharing with me and being a gentleman.”

“You’re welcome M’Lady.” He said inclining his head. A serious look replaced the smile as he added, “Contrary to how I speak sometimes, I was raised to respect a lady’s wishes and no matter how sweet; and trust me it was a sweet invitation; I won’t take advantage of a situation.”

Vitaria put her free palm gently upon his cheek. “We will meet again my Young Lord and always know that I will have your back as I know you will have mine.”

“On that Vitaria you can always count on me.”

She stood up on tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek before letting go of his hand and making a beeline for the back door. Darius just stood for a brief moment staring at her back, his hand going up to touch the spot she had just kissed. A tingling warm flush overwhelmed him. He wondered if this was how his father felt about his mother. The thought of coming home to her every night planted a half smile on his mug as he followed her in.